President Joe Biden rolled out new actions on Friday to curb oil production and mining in Alaska, drawing criticism from Republicans and local leaders who say the move will compromise national security and hurt the economy.
The action, taken through the Department of Interior, blocks the granting of any new leases for oil drilling or mining on 13 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Alaska is also blocked from building a road to a copper deposit in the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. The deposit was estimated to contain about $7.5 billion worth of copper, according to The New York Times.
“I am proud that my Administration is taking action to conserve more than 13 million acres in the Western Arctic and to honor the culture, history, and enduring wisdom of Alaska Natives who have lived on and stewarded these lands since time immemorial,” Biden
