(DailyEmailNews.com) – In a devious lame-duck move made hours after Donald Trump reclaimed the presidency, the Biden-Harris administration is once again taking a sharp turn away from Trump’s policies, proposing restrictive measures on oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
This plan to limit leasing to only 400,000 acres aims to protect vulnerable ecosystems and endangered species.
Shortly after Trump’s re-election, Biden’s team swiftly acted to curb oil drilling activities within ANWR.
The administration unveiled a proposal to restrict oil and gas leasing to only 400,000 acres in the refuge’s coastal plain.
This area, identified for its high oil potential, is a drastic shift from the expansive drilling encouraged during Trump’s time in office.
The proposed restrictions have sparked legal and political debates.
Environmentalists are pushing Congress to repeal mandates established in 2017, which required oil lease sales following decades of protection.
These were originally set in motion under a law backed by Trump, designed to unlock ANWR’s vast energy resources, often referred to as “liquid gold,” Just The News writes in a report.
Alaska’s Refuge is incredibly rich in biodiversity, serving as a home to species like caribou and polar bears.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is imposing stricter regulations than those implemented by Trump to safeguard these critical environments.
However, not everyone is pleased with this move. Local Alaskan leaders argue these restrictions may hinder economic opportunities for Indigenous communities reliant on oil revenues.
“Industrializing the coastal plain would bring irreparable harm to caribou, polar bears, and threaten the cultural and spiritual existence of the Gwich’in people,” said Nicole Whittington-Evans of Defenders of Wildlife, cited by Illuminem.com.
Despite the expected backlash, the Biden administration continues to champion its green agenda.
In addition to protecting other Alaskan wilderness areas, they approved the Willow project, indicating a strategic balance between conservation and pragmatic development.
But as the administration pushes forward with plans for minimal acreage auctions, the opposition from local and state initiatives grows stronger.
Some Alaska Native groups and entities like the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) express readiness to participate in the lease sales, arguing such economic activities are vital for their communities.
On the other hand, support from environmental organizations reflects a triumph for conservation efforts.
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