Alaska Challenges New NPR-A Oil and Gas Leasing Rules in Lawsuit

Alaska has announced that it is filing a lawsuit to contest new federal regulations pertaining to oil and gas leasing in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).

In April, the Biden administration implemented measures aimed at restricting oil and gas drilling and mining in Alaska. These new regulations have resulted in the prohibition of development on approximately 40% of the NPR-A to safeguard wildlife habitats and the lifestyle of Indigenous communities, although they do not impact current oil and gas operations.

According to a statement from the state, “The new rules were passed without proper input from affected parties, exceeded their congressional authorization, and were rushed into place as an end-run on congressional oversight.”

The NPR-A encompasses 23 million acres of land on Alaska’s North Slope, making it the largest area of undisturbed public land in the United States.

Alaskan Attorney General Treg Taylor remarked, “This lawsuit seeks to prevent overreach by federal agencies that disregard Alaska’s rights.” Alaska has indicated its interest in participating in the rulemaking process, having submitted considered comments and requested additional time for input. The state alleges that the regulations were hastily instituted to circumvent potential changes in congressional oversight.

Additionally, Alaska has recently taken legal action against the federal government to recover lost revenues after the Biden administration annulled oil and gas drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which spans 19.6 million acres.