U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, alongside U.S. Representative Mary Sattler Peltola, have sent a letter to Secretary Deb Haaland urging the Department of the Interior (DOI) to retract a proposed rule affecting the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A). The Alaska delegation argues that recent developments highlight why the rule should be withdrawn.
The letter points out several issues with the DOI’s approach. First, they criticize the Bureau of Land Management for inadequate consultation with Alaska Natives, which they believe will be adversely affected by this rule. Second, Senator Murkowski has included language in her Fiscal Year 2024 Interior-Environment bill urging more meaningful consultations with affected tribes and corporations.
The delegation also notes negative economic impacts due to lease suspensions affecting over one million acres in Alaska. This contradicts the draft rule’s claim that existing leases would remain unaffected.
Additionally, a joint resolution passed by the Alaska Legislature calls for withdrawal of the NPR-A rule, arguing it lacks consultation benefits and does not align with federal oil and gas production policies.
The delegation states: “At this point, it is abundantly clear: no statewide elected leaders and virtually no state legislators in Alaska support the NPR-A rule.” They argue that DOI has failed to engage Alaskans properly and emphasize renewed consultation as essential.
“Rather than rushing this rule through to the finish line,” they urge Secretary Haaland “to address its numerous serious flaws.”
