Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum is taking immediate steps to unleash Alaska’s untapped natural resource potential and support President Trump.
Under the Secretary’s leadership, the Bureau of Land Management will pursue steps to expand opportunities for exploration and development in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska and the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The BLM will also work towards partial revocation of public land withdrawals to help solidify the path forward for the proposed Ambler Road and Alaska Liquified Natural Gas Pipeline projects. Among the plans are
1. Reopening up to 82% of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska available to leasing and expanding energy development opportunities.
2. Reinstating a program that makes the entire 1.56-million-acre Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge available for oil and gas leasing.
3. Revoking withdrawals along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Corridor and Dalton Highway north of the Yukon River to convey these lands to the State of Alaska.
Earlier this year, President Trump committed to unlocking Alaska’s abundant supply of natural resources for the benefit of Alaskans and the nation, providing economic and national security for many generations. Interior is set to deliver on the President’s promise through these actions and more to come.
