Alaska's Dunleavy Asks Trump to Revive Drilling, Logging in Protected Lands

2 weeks ago 5

What's New

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy has formally requested that President-elect Donald Trump reverse federal restrictions on oil and gas exploration across the state when he takes office on Jan. 20.

Newsweek reached out to Dunleavy's office for comment.

Why It Matters

Alaska's economy relies heavily on resource extraction, and Gov. Dunleavy's proposals reflect a push to maximize oil, gas, and timber development. Republicans perceive these industries to be economic lifelines for the state, also playing a broader role in national energy security, particularly while global demand for energy continues to grow.

However, the state contains a number of fragile, globally significant ecosystems: namely the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Tongass National Forest. Expanded oil and gas exploration and reduced protections for forests could have profound effects on biodiversity, climate change, and indigenous communities dependent on these landscapes.

Alaska Governor Request Environmental Rollbacks
Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R-AK) speaks during the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree lighting ceremony on the west front of the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 3, 2024 in Washington, DC. Dunleavy has requested that President-elect Donald Trump... Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

What to Know

In a letter dated Nov. 15, 2024, Dunleavy urged Trump to issue a state-specific executive order initiating "critical agency actions that would restore opportunity to Alaska," aligned with Trump's prior administration policies.

Some debates about where Alaska's equilibrium sits between environment and economy date back to the Clinton-era.

The proposed drilling in ANWR's coastal plain is contested. Environmental groups and some Indigenous communities deem the area as a sacred and ecologically vital habitat for wildlife including polar bears and caribou. Supporters, however, highlight potential economic benefits, including job creation and significant revenue.

The Biden administration had canceled leases issued under Trump, citing environmental concerns and litigation risks. ANWR is estimated to hold 4.25 to 11.8 billion barrels of recoverable oil, according to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

Through Trump, Dunleavy is expected to push for the removal of restrictions reinstated by Biden on road-building and logging in the Tongass, the largest national forest in the U.S.

These restrictions protect habitat for bears, salmon, and other wildlife while limiting economic activities. His letter also calls for a task force that includes the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other federal agencies to focus on Alaska-specific resource development goals.

Alaska Tongass Rainforest
Tourists visiting the Mendenhall Glacier in the Tongass National Forest are reflected in a pool of water while they make their way to Nugget Falls in Juneau, Alaska, July 31, 2013. ANWR and the Tongass... AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File

What People Are Saying

Mike Dunleavy, Republican Governor of Alaska: He considers the concept of an energy transition from fossil fuels "pretty much dead——meaning, demand for energy is growing so exponentially, there's very few experts that believe it can get there without fossil fuels."

Bridget Psarianos, a staff attorney with Trustees for Alaska said: Many of the issues on Dunleavy's list are ones her group has worked to protect for decades. "I think we're just getting prepared to continue to hold the line," she said. She added her group will scrutinize "any and all attempts to cut corners and expedite" projects, including drilling in the refuge.

Erik Grafe, an attorney for Earthjustice in Alaska said: "Oil is not the future and it can't be [ …] The state needs to start thinking of a Plan B, post-oil."

What Happens Next

The debate over Alaska's natural resources is set to continue under Trump's administration. A 2017 law championed by Trump mandates two ANWR lease sales by late 2024. The second sale, set for Jan. 9, just before Biden leaves office, offers significantly less land than the first, drawing criticism from Dunleavy and Alaska's Republican senators as insufficient.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press

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