The Trump administration has finalized plans to enable oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an action that has stirred long-standing controversies regarding environmental conservation on sacred Indigenous lands in Alaska.
The U.S. Department of the Interior formally announced on Thursday its intention to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, an area that is part of traditional Inupiaq and Gwich’in Indigenous territories, to resource exploration.
This move, which could lead to lease sales across the refuge’s 1.5 million acres (631,309 hectares), is described as part of a broader strategy to enhance energy development and modernize land and resource management in Alaska.
In making the announcement, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum remarked, “From day one, President Trump directed us to unlock Alaska’s energy and resource potential while honoring commitments to the state and local communities.”
Supporters of the drilling, including President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans, have long advocated for reopening this segment of the refuge for potential development.
The administration’s plan aligns with a Republican bill passed earlier in the summer, designed to offer significant tax breaks and spending cuts, while mandating a minimum of four lease sales in the Alaska refuge over a decade.
Burgum stated, “By reopening the Coastal Plain and advancing key infrastructure, we are strengthening energy independence, creating jobs and supporting Alaska’s communities while driving economic growth across the state.”
However, the proposal provokes strong opposition, particularly from Indigenous Gwich’in communities who view the coastal plain as sacred land and oppose drilling activities.
Meda DeWitt, Alaska senior manager at The Wilderness Society, condemned the administration’s decision, stating it prioritizes corporate interests over the lives and cultures of Indigenous peoples who rely on the health of the Arctic Refuge for their survival.
Contrastingly, the Inupiaq community in Kaktovik, located within the refuge, supports responsible oil development, believing that it is critical for their economic well-being and future growth.
Charles “CC” Lampe, president of the Kaktovik Inupiat Corp, which was established in 1973 and controls land in and around Kaktovik, expressed approval of the Trump administration’s announcement. He called it “encouraging to see decision makers in Washington advancing policies that respect our voice and support Kaktovik’s long-term success.”
In the same announcement, Burgum also addressed a land exchange deal linked to the construction of a road to connect the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay, which would traverse the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.
Residents of King Cove have long sought access to this road, although conservationists and tribal leaders have indicated their intention to legally challenge the development.
Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski asserted that she has consistently advocated for land access for King Cove throughout her tenure, emphasizing the necessity of constructing the road with minimal disruption to local wildlife.
She remarked, “I think it’s important to remember that nobody’s talking about a multi-lane paved road moving lots of big trucks back and forth. It is still an 11-mile, one-lane, gravel, noncommercial-use road.”
As tensions intensify over the drilling plans and road construction, various stakeholders continue to voice their opinions, highlighting the complex balance between economic development and environmental preservation.
image source from：aljazeera
