The Biden administration has once again stopped America from being able to stop relying on other countries for oil and gas. Biden has taken the first step by suspending oil and gas drilling leases within Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge pending the outcome of an environmental impact review.
The decision marked just the beginning to remove all of the Trump administration’s efforts to expand drilling in the region. This wouldn’t be the first time that Biden had placed a hold on oil and gas activities within the refuge.
Earlier this year, President Biden placed a temporary hold on all activities citing potential “legal deficiencies” in the Trump-backed leasing program. He paused oil and gas leases on federal land by executive order in January. The president called for an end to drilling in the Alaskan refuge during his presidential campaign.
White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy said the suspension of drilling “marks an important step forward fulfilling President Biden’s promise to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
“President Biden believes America’s national treasures are cultural and economic cornerstones of our country and he is grateful for the prompt action by the Department of the Interior to suspend all leasing pending a review of decisions made in the last administration’s final days that could have changes to the character of this special place forever,” McCarthy added.
The Interior Department said a review ordered by Biden had confirmed “defects” with the leasing program.
“After conducting the required review, the Department identified defects in the underlying Record of Decision supporting the leases, including the lack of analysis of a reasonable range of alternatives in the EIS conducted under NEPA,” the department said.
