Page 4 - NorthAmOil Week 22 2021
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NorthAmOil                                    COMMENTARY                                          NorthAmOil




       Steps forward, steps back





       for Alaskan oil and gas







       The administration of US President Joe Biden has backed the

       earlier approval of ConocoPhillips’ Willow project, but has

       subsequently opted to suspend leases in the Arctic National
       Wildlife Refuge




        ALASKA           THE administration of US President Joe Biden  while preparing to kick off work in a region spe-
                         is starting to make its position on oil and gas  cifically earmarked for oil development by US
       WHAT:             production in Alaska clearer, with two separate  Congress.
       The past week has seen   events over the past week coming as mixed news
       mixed news for Alaska’s   for the state’s industry.    Defending Willow
       oil and gas industry.  First, the US Department of Justice (DoJ)  The DoJ’s defence of the Trump administra-
                         sided with the previous administration – under  tion’s approval of Willow came in a filing with
       WHY:              former US President Donald Trump – on its  the US District Court for the District of Alaska.
       The Biden administration   approval of ConocoPhillips’ Willow project in  The department said the approval had years of
       has backed the    the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-  analysis, consultation and public input behind it.
       previous approval of   A). Then in a separate move, the US Depart-  Opponents of the project are attempting
       ConocoPhillips’ Willow   ment of the Interior (DoI) suspended oil and  to have its approval overturned through the
       project but has also   gas leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge  courts, and have argued that the government
       suspended leases in the   (ANWR) that were issued by the Trump admin-  did not adequately consider the impact Wil-
       Arctic National Wildlife   istration in its final days.  low’s development would have on local wildlife
       Refuge.             The moves illustrate how Biden’s approach  and the environment more broadly. However,
                         differs from that of Trump, especially when it  the DoJ told the court that the plaintiffs were
       WHAT NEXT:        comes to projects that are of particular concern  “cherry-picking the records” of the regulators
       Biden wants to make the   on environmental grounds. Biden has made  involved in approving the project.
       refuge permanently off-  fighting climate change one of his priorities   This came after Biden had previously
       limits to drilling, though   and also pledged to protect the ANWR perma-  instructed the DoI to review Willow’s approval,
       Alaskan players are   nently during his election campaign last year.  which was granted in 2020. Now, the Biden
       trying to convince him   But in the case of the Willow project, he appears  administration has said that the federal govern-
       otherwise.        to be satisfied that ConocoPhillips is following  ment followed applicable clean water, animal
                         all applicable environmental protection laws,  protection and environmental laws in approving





























       P4                                       www. NEWSBASE .com                           Week 22   03•June•2021
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