Trump’s BLM Quietly Moves Forward ConocoPhillips’ Dangerous Exploration Activitiesin Western Arctic with 7 Day Comment Period

(Nuiqsut, Alaska / Washington, DC) – Late Monday, the Bureau of Land Management announced that it will now accept comments on a single Environmental Assessment (EA) for ConocoPhillips’ winter exploration activities, which includes drilling, seismic, and plugging wells. Comments are due November 17, with community meetings planned for after the comment period closes on November 18 in Nuiqsut and December 4 in Anaktuvuk Pass.

The draft EA includes drilling and seismic near Nuiqsut and within the Colville River and Teshekpuk Lake Special Areas – areas critical to subsistence practices and wildlife habitat.

Below is a statement from Grandmothers Growing Goodness’ Executive Director in response:

“It is outrageous that the Trump Administration is giving the public a mere seven days to comment on its environmental assessment for ConocoPhillips’ drilling and seismic plans. This land is our home. We demand that the Bureau of Land Management give us more time to voice our concerns and fully consider other options before allowing ConocoPhillips to destroy these special and irreplaceable areas,” said Rosemary Ahtuangaruak, Executive Director of Grandmothers Growing Goodness.

Additional Information:

The Colville River Special Area encompasses 2.44 million acres and supports habitats for numerous important wildlife species, including peregrine falcons, golden eagles, hawks, and critical subsistence fish species such as whitefish and lake trout, as well as three major caribou herds.

The Teshekpuk Lake Special Area contains the largest lake in Arctic Alaska and the third largest in the state, supporting one of the most productive and unique wetland complexes in the circumpolar Arctic. The area is vital for the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd and other wildlife that are integral to Indigenous subsistence practices, supporting hunting, fishing, and gathering.

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