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Obama proposes new restrictions in ANWR; delegation calls move a ‘war declaration’

By Kyle Hopkins

 

In a move the state Congressional delegation and governor are calling a war declaration on Alaska’s future, President Obama will propose designating 12 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness, the Washington Post first reported today:

 

The announcement, according to individuals briefed on the plan, is just the first in a series of decisions the Interior Department will make in the coming week that will affect the state’s oil and gas production. The department will also put part of the Arctic Ocean off limits to drilling as part of a five-year leasing plan it will issue this week and is considering whether to impose additional limits on oil and gas production in parts of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

 

The proposals could have far-reaching aftershocks on oil and gas development as the state struggles to cover massive spending deficits caused by low oil prices and an almost total reliance on oil revenue to pay for state government. News that the president sought to place the highest protections possible on portions of ANWR drew a swift, outraged reaction from Alaska leaders.

 

In an unusual joint news release from the offices of Gov. Bill Walker, Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and Rep. Don Young, the delegation called the proposal “an unprecedented assault on Alaska that will have long-lasting effects on the state’s economy and the nation’s energy security.”

 

“I cannot understand why this administration is willing to negotiate with Iran, but not Alaska. … We will not be run over like this,” said Murkowski, who is chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

 

All told, the Obama administration recommends designating 12.28 million acres, including the coastal plain, as wilderness, according to a Sunday morning statement from the Department of Interior. (The Post initially reported the wilderness proposal was for 1.4 million acres in the coastal plain.)

 

“Currently, over 7 million acres of the refuge are managed as wilderness, consistent with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980.  However, more than 60 percent of the refuge – including the Coastal Plain – does not carry that designation,” the Interior Department said.

 

The Post reports that the new areas proposed for wilderness designation include 1.52 million acres of ANWR’s coastal plain, 5.85 million acres in the Brooks range and 4.92 million acres in the Porcupine Plateau.

 

The Alaska delegation writes that placing more of ANWR under “wilderness” status would permanently make portions of the most-promising onshore oil prospect in the United States off-limits to development. The proposal to withdraw offshore areas in the Arctic from oil and gas leasing, in the five-year-plan to be released this week, will freeze development in “large swaths” of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, the coalition wrote.

 

“It is unclear how these new restrictions will affect areas already under lease by Shell, ConocoPhillips and Statoil,” the statement says.

 

Among the reaction from Alaska leaders:

 

Sen. Lisa Murkowski said:

 

“What’s coming is a stunning attack on our sovereignty and our ability to develop a strong economy that allows us, our children and our grandchildren to thrive. It’s clear this administration does not care about us, and sees us as nothing but a territory. The promises made to us at statehood, and since then, mean absolutely nothing to them. I cannot understand why this administration is willing to negotiate with Iran, but not Alaska. But we will not be run over like this. We will fight back with every resource at our disposal.”

 

Sen. Dan Sullivan said:

“This outrageous action confirms what most Alaskans have feared – that the Obama administration’s war against Alaska families and the middle class would only intensify under the final two years of President Obama’s tenure. But Alaskans have been in tough battles before. We will defeat their lawless attempt to designate ANWR as a wilderness, as well as their ultimate goal of making Alaska one big national park. This decision disregards the rule of law and our constitution and specifically ignores many promises made to Alaska in ANILCA. It is just one more example of President Obama thumbing his nose at the citizens of a sovereign state – and will put Alaska and America’s energy security in serious jeopardy. I stand united with Sen. Murkowski, Congressman Young, Governor Walker and the members of the Alaska State Legislature to vigilantly safeguard and defend our fellow Alaskans’ interests, and I pledge to do everything in my power to fight back against this assault on Alaska’s economic future.”

 

Rep. Don  Young said:

 

“This callously planned and politically motivated attack on Alaska by the Obama administration is akin to spitting in our faces and telling us it’s raining outside. As if on command from the most extreme environmentalist elements, this president and his team of D.C. bureaucrats believe they alone know what’s best for Alaska, but this brazen assault on our state and our people will do the complete opposite. Every time the president undermines the law of the land, he breaks his oath of office and weakens the nation we love. This latest move, in clear violation of ANILCA’s ‘no more’ clause, and despite the fierce opposition of every Alaska statewide elected official and the vast majority of our people, demonstrates that the Imperial Presidency of Barack Obama knows no bounds. Simply put, this wholesale land grab, this widespread attack on our people and our way of life, is disgusting.”

 

Gov. Bill Walker said:

“Having just given to Alaskans the State of the State and State of the Budget addresses, it’s clear that our fiscal challenges in both the short and long term would benefit significantly from increased oil production. This action by the federal government is a major setback toward reaching that goal. Therefore, I will consider accelerating the options available to us to increase oil exploration and production on state-owned lands. This further underscores the need for Alaska to become a participant in the infrastructure development for the benefit of all North Slope participants and the residents of Alaska.”

 

Check back or updates on this developing story. Here is how Obama describes the move in a newly released video.

 

“Alaska’s National Wildlife Refuge is an incredible place. Pristine. Undisturbed. It supports caribou and polar bears. All manner of marine life. Countless species of birds and fish. And for centuries its supported many Alaska Native communities. But it’s very fragile. I’m very proud that my Department of Interior has put forward a comprehensive plan to make sure that we’re protecting the refuge. And that we’re designating new areas, including coastal plains, for preservation. and I’m going to be calling on Congress to make sure that they take it one step further. Designating it as a wilderness so that they can make sure that this amazing wonder is preserved for future generations.