Alaska’s congressional delegation is celebrating the Department of the Interior’s decision to begin rescinding a Biden 2024 rule that restricts oil and gas development in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.The announcement, made by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum during a town hall in Utqiagvik on Sunday evening, was met with widespread applause from North Slope residents, and strong endorsements from US Sen. Dan Sullivan, Sen. Lisa Murkowski, and Congressman Nick Begich.
Sen. Sullivan, who attended the town hall, emphasized that the Biden-era rule had ignored the voices of Alaskans and undermined the well-being of the North Slope’s Iñupiat communities.
“The announcement was roundly met with cheers from Alaskans of the North Slope, who understand better than anyone the proper balance between responsible oil production and the subsistence way of life they cherish,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan noted that responsible resource development in the NPR-A has helped bring essential services and infrastructure to remote villages.
“Responsible resource development has transformed the lives of the Iñupiat people, supporting the construction of clinics, gymnasiums, water infrastructure — basic amenities most Americans take for granted,” he said. “Thank you, Secretary Burgum, for respecting the voices of Alaskans, for standing up for the self-determination of the Iñupiat people, and for sharing this important announcement among the people who will most benefit from it.”
Congressman Begich echoed Sullivan’s praise, framing the decision as a win for Alaska’s right to shape its energy future and for Americans who support energy independence. “This decision is a major victory for Alaska and for every American who believes in energy independence and the rule of law,” Begich said.
He sharply criticized the 2024 NPR-A rule, saying it had been imposed without serious consultation with local communities and in violation of federal law.
“The 2024 restrictions in the NPR-A were imposed with no serious consideration provided to those who work and live in the region and in clear violation of the law — hindering Alaska’s right to responsibly develop our resources,” he said. “There is no question that the road to American prosperity begins in Alaska with our abundance of critical resources, and I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their leadership in restoring our right to shape Alaska’s energy future.”
Murkowski thanked Secretary Burgum for listening to Alaskans and recognizing the explicit legal purpose of the petroleum reserve.
“This is a victory not only for those who support responsible development, but also those who believe in the rule of law. The 2024 management rule clearly violated the law, establishing restrictions and a presumption against development as part of the last administration’s effort to turn the North Slope into one giant tract of federal wilderness. Repealing the rule will not weaken our world-class environmental standards, but it will enable Alaska to produce more energy as Congress intended. The result will be good jobs for Alaskans, more affordable energy for America, and significant new revenues for government,” she said.
The Department of the Interior stated that a legal and policy review found the 2024 rule “exceeds [the Bureau of Land Management’s] statutory authority under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976,” and “conflicts with the Act’s purpose.” The rule, finalized during the Biden Administration, had prevented lease sales and added new regulatory barriers to development across the 23-million-acre reserve.
Rescinding the rule will return management of the NPR-A to the regulatory framework that existed before May 2024. These previous rules allowed for responsible development while preserving wildlife and subsistence values through the Integrated Activity Plan process.
“Today another sanction on Alaska was lifted by the Trump Administration. This is great news for state’s economy and the nation’s energy supply,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy.
Environmentalists were dismayed: “It’s hard to overstate the havoc this could wreak on the Western Arctic’s undisturbed habitat for caribou, polars bears and belugas,” said Marlee Goska, Alaska attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Trump’s fixation on plundering Alaska’s ecosystems for short-term gain is matched only by the stupidity of turning this precious place into a fossil fuel extraction site. Alaska’s vast expanses of wild lands are a big part of what makes our state so special, and we’ll do everything possible to protect these places.”
Brett Huber of Power the Future Alaska disputed that characterization.
“The usual chorus of overfunded environmental extremists will scream that the sky is falling, but this rollback simply restores the balance Congress intended,” Huber said. “It reopens the door to responsible, previously permitted development — development that protects sensitive lands and sustains the subsistence lifestyle of North Slope communities. This isn’t reckless expansion; it’s common-sense governance grounded in law and local reality. Power The Future considers this sound a timely action great news for energy workers, Alaska, and the nation.”
Stop the bus! Lisa did something good for Alaskans?
Nah. She took credit for something good Trump did for Alaska, which quickly put her into cognitive dissonance. Cheers –
She didn’t want Trump to be president again. But now she is riding the wave.
“It’s hard to overstate the havoc this could wreak on the Western Arctic’s undisturbed habitat for caribou, polars (sic) bears and belugas”
Ho hum, sounds like the same broken record dating back to the 1970s. The gloom and doom never happened. Can’t these people come up with something new or believable? I’ll go ahead and answer: No, they’re too dumb.
They know nothing else to do but parrot the old lies.
‘https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/index.html#
The radical maoist opponents grift off USAID and hilariously deleted their DEI page from their website
They oppose all non-native mining businesses and use taxpayer funds to give free legal services to the #TribesThatBribe to commit fraud
“………It’s hard to overstate the havoc this could wreak on the Western Arctic’s undisturbed habitat for caribou, polars bears and belugas…….”
That is true, but she’s quite capable of still doing it.
Joe Biden’s other daughter, Lisa Murkowski, is now in the doghouse with two daddies. Both Frankie and Joe need to get their facts straight.
Surprised that miss Murky had anything nice to say as it is the Bad Orange Man’s administration helping Alaskan people.
I sure hope to see a rising leader in the near future to replace her as its clear she votes against the majority living in this great state.
Please do not refer to any politician as our “leader”. Thanks.
Princess’s voter base is going to be p’d to f off
My guess is Lisa didn’t have any choice If she was hiding in DC It would have been a different story
What was the name of this place again? National Petroleum Reserve? We have the most oil production in the USA ever. Prices are at an extremely low. On January 9 2025 there was a lease sale that generated no interest. 2021 had a few leases sold. Good investors and stewards of assets know that sometimes it is best to sit on it until markets and conditions improve. This asset is owned by all the citizens and future generations of the USA. Why are we so greedy?
I am a bit disturbed but Senator Murkowski’s and Congressman Begich’s use of the phrase “rule of law” in announcing their support for the change of policy. In this case it may not be significant. In recent times, however, the phrase “rule of law” has taken on a unique meaning for some, similar to the phrase “our democracy”. I urge others to pay attention to language and the nuances it imparts.
When/if it comes down to actually voting for anything needed to codify these initiatives, baby lisa is likely going to vote NO along with her ideologues on the left.
Lisa, is playing the game but she is not onboard. Count Lisa out… on anything that benefits Alaska except herself… She needs to be eliminated from anything Alaska. Let her drown in Washington D.C. politics.