The state of Alaska has initiated legal action against the Biden administration, claiming violations of congressional directives that support oil and gas development in a designated area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The lawsuit, filed on January 7 in the U.S. District Court for Alaska, specifically contests a December 2024 decision from the federal government to impose restrictions on oil drilling leases within the coastal plain of ANWR. This decision is seen as a significant barrier to energy development in the region, affecting about 400,000 acres of land earmarked for auction to oil and gas companies later this month.

Alaska's lawsuit argues that the imposed curbs on surface use and occupancy render it "impossible or impracticable to develop" the area, significantly hindering any potential oil exploration and drilling activities. Governor Mike Dunleavy, a Republican, criticized the Biden administration's policies, stating, "Interior’s continued and irrational opposition under the Biden administration to responsible energy development in the Arctic continues America on a path of energy dependence instead of utilizing the vast resources we have available" (Reuters).

The state aims to have the December decision overturned and seeks to prevent the Department of the Interior from proceeding with the auction of the restricted leases. An immediate comment from the department was not available, as the Bureau of Land Management spokesperson declined to provide a statement.

Highlighting the financial impacts, Alaska contends that due to the cancellations of leases initially granted in the final days of the Trump administration, the state expects to receive only a fraction of the anticipated $1.1 billion in revenues projected by the Congressional Budget Office from energy development in the ANWR.

This lawsuit represents Alaska’s ongoing legal opposition to the Biden administration's conservation efforts, which aim to protect the ANWR—home to diverse species such as polar bears and caribou. Previous lawsuits include an October 2023 challenge from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority against the cancellation of leases they held, and a July 2024 lawsuit focused on recovering lost revenue.

Drilling in ANWR has been a contentious topic for decades, caught between environmental concerns and Alaska's push for energy exploration. In 2017, Congress permitted drilling through a measure included in a tax cut bill supported by former President Trump. However, under President Biden’s administration, two companies withdrew from their drilling leases in 2022, and the Interior Department subsequently canceled seven leases held by the state development authority.

Read more about this story on Reuters and The Guardian.