Environmentalists and an Alaska Indigenous group praised the move while a Republican Senator from Alaska slammed it.
Interior also said it would protect 13 million acres in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, a 23 million-acre area on the state’s North Slope that is the largest undisturbed public land in the United States. The agency would prohibit new leasing on more than 10 million acres, or more than 40% of the reserve.
The actions are the latest effort by Biden to rein in oil and gas activities on public lands, part of a broader agenda to combat climate change. Biden, who is gearing up to run for re-election in 2024, possibly against Trump, also faces pressure to boost domestic fuel supplies to keep pump prices low.
The oil and gas industry largely failed to embrace the 2021 lease sale, which generated just $14 million in high bids, mostly from AIDEA. “We commend Secretary Haaland for canceling unlawfully issued oil-and-gas leases in the Arctic Refuge,” Abigail Dillen, president of environmental group Earthjustice, said in a statement. “Looking ahead, we hope to see the strongest possible protections for the Arctic Refuge and the Western Arctic in the years to come.”
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ecological impact of tennis balls is out of bounds, environmentalists sayNearly all 330 million balls made worldwide each year eventually get thrown out, with most ending up in landfills for centuries.
Read more »
Beat Trump, save Trump, preserve the USA: The case for DeSantisA new poll has former President Donald Trump beating President Biden in the 2024 election, apparently because of Mr. Trump’s legal difficulties.
Read more »
Alaska Board of Education Votes to Protect Girls’ High School SportsAlaska's board of education has voted to approve a proposal barring trans-identifying males from playing on girls' high school sports teams.
Read more »
Southeast commercial red and blue king crab fishery remains closed for upcoming seasonThe Alaska Department of Fish and Game announced the closure of the Southeast Alaska commercial red and blue king crab fishery for the 2023-2024 season.
Read more »
Sterling Highway closed in both directions near mile 70 due to collisionAlaska State Troopers have closed the Sterling Highway in both directions near mile 70.
Read more »