Senator Murkowski on Nullifying Biden's Alaska Resource Production Restrictions

Disapproval Resolutions for Alaska's Coastal Plain

• 📜 Senator Lisa Murkowski discusses two identical disapproval resolutions, Senate Joint Resolution 91 and House Joint Resolution 131, aimed at nullifying the Biden administration's coastal plain oil and gas program.
• 🎯 These resolutions seek to overturn the administration's efforts to shut down resource production in Alaska, specifically targeting the rewritten integrated activity plan for the National Petroleum Reserve and the closure of development on a portion of the coastal plain.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the 1002 Area

• 🗺️ The coastal plain, a 1.56 million-acre tract on Alaska's North Slope, is part of ANWR. However, Congress specifically reserved this area (the "1002 area") for energy exploration and potential future development through Section 1002 of ANILCA.
• ⚖️ Unlike the surrounding refuge, the 1002 area is not federal wilderness by law; it was set aside for exploratory activity, with development decisions to be made later.
• 💡 In 2017, Congress opened a small fraction of the coastal plain to responsible development, limiting surface development to 2,000 acres and requiring environmental reviews.

Biden Administration's Actions and Reversal

• 🚫 President Biden suspended the coastal plain program on his first day, paused leasing, and then canceled existing leases. The administration subsequently rewrote the program, making leasing unattractive and development impossible.
• 🗣️ The Biden administration is accused of failing to meaningfully consult with the people living on the North Slope, including those in Utqiagvik, the only community within ANWR's boundaries.
• 📉 The new 2024 program drastically reduced available leasing acreage from 1.56 million to 400,000 acres, with significant restrictions on surface use, seismic surveying, and development, aiming to decline oil production by nearly 80%.

Consequences and Call to Action

• ⛽ Less oil from Alaska means a less utilized Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, increased reliance on foreign imports for the West Coast, fewer jobs, less revenue for the state, and reduced infrastructure and services.
• ⚖️ A federal judge previously ruled the cancellation of coastal plain leases illegal, yet the Biden administration proceeded with its plan.
• ✅ Senator Murkowski urges support for the resolution to disapprove and nullify the Biden administration's actions, emphasizing the need to restore the rule of law, ensure domestic energy security, and allow for balanced management of the coastal plain while protecting most of ANWR's acreage.