SW Arkansas Times

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have released the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s (ANWR) second lease sale. This announcement has sparked criticism from some members of the House Committee on Natural Resources.

House Committee on Natural Resources Chairman Bruce Westerman expressed his dissatisfaction with the Biden-Harris administration's policies, stating, "Time and time again we have seen the Biden-Harris administration ignore Alaska Native voices and enact disastrous land and energy policy across the state. This whole process has been a political sham and is a slap in the face to Alaskan communities and tribes just one day after the American people voiced their clear opposition to polices like this." He added that he anticipates working with a future Trump administration to find solutions that respect Alaska Natives' voices.

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Chairman Pete Stauber echoed similar sentiments, criticizing recent actions as part of an "anti-American energy, anti-Alaska agenda." He stated, “Over the past four years, the Biden-Harris administration has implemented sanction after sanction on the Alaskan people and the development of their abundant natural resources."

The release of this statement marks another step in what critics describe as a series of actions by President Biden's administration that disregard Alaska Native perspectives while failing to address national energy needs. These actions include a moratorium on activity in ANWR during Biden's early days in office, cancellation of leases from ANWR's first lease sale last September, and proposals affecting management of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve.

In response to these developments, legislation such as the bipartisan Alaska Right to Produce Act has been advanced by Congress to support Native Alaskan interests against federal policies perceived as harmful. Additionally, committee members have engaged directly with local leaders in Alaska’s North Slope region to ensure their concerns are represented in Washington.