New Arctic Oil-Drilling Lease Sale OK’d

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Mark Drajem
Media Director
Elizabeth Heyd
Media Associate

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Department of the Interior finalized a legally mandated decision to hold a lease sale for oil and gas development in the Arctic Refuge, one of the nation’s most pristine and treasured wildlife refuges. While this action is required under the terms of President Trump’s tax-cut package in 2017, it puts the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge under threat from oil drillers once again.

The following is a comment from Garett Rose, a senior attorney at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“The Arctic Refuge is one of the nation’s singular landscapes, of central importance to the Gwich’in people, and providing essential habitat for an array of wildlife. It is the last place on earth we should be drilling for oil.

“Oil and gas development would wreck the Arctic Refuge’s natural values permanently while worsening the destruction caused by climate change. And it makes no financial sense for the country, as the previous failed lease sale in the Arctic Refuge unequivocally demonstrated. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure the integrity of this unique refuge.”

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd). 

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