Rosemary Ahtuangaruak recalls camping with her family at Teshekpuk Lake on Alaska’s North Slope. Her uncle often picked her up from work, ready with a snowmobile to explore the vast lakes and wetlands, considered one of America’s top wilderness areas.
“Get your winter gear,” he would say. “We’re going camping.”
Soon, this area may host drilling rigs as ConocoPhillips plans to extend ice roads and well pads westward into the Arctic beyond its Willow oil project, approved in 2023 by the Biden administration. The company also aims to build roads south of Willow for seismic testing to locate crude oil.
The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a draft environmental assessment, indicating the exploration sites are in protected “special areas” within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. These areas, near Nuiqsut, a community of about 500 people, are crucial for the Teshekpuk caribou herd’s migratory route, vital for the Iñupiat population’s subsistence hunting.
The assessment states that ConocoPhillips wants to explore oil in regions with a “high density” of caribou during winter. The company seeks exceptions to federal management plan stipulations to refuel equipment on frozen lakes and harvest ice.
Ahtuangaruak, former mayor of Nuiqsut and critic of local oil development, says the Willow project has already pushed caribou away, complicating hunting. She fears the proposed activities will deteriorate conditions further.
The BLM allocated a one-week public comment period for the proposal, notably shorter than the typical 30 days, with its start coinciding with Veterans Day. A public meeting is set for Nov. 18, the day following the comment period’s close.
“They don’t really care,” Ahtuangaruak said regarding the meeting’s timing.
The BLM did not respond for comments.
How to Weigh In
The BLM has set a Nov. 17 deadline for public comments on the ConocoPhillips proposal, which can be submitted online.
Matt Jackson, Alaska senior manager for The Wilderness Society, criticized the proposal and the short comment period, arguing it limits public input on a crucial issue concerning public lands. He expressed concerns over the potential harm to a delicate ecosystem, noting ConocoPhillips’ plans confirm fears of expanding Arctic oil drilling.
“This landscape is crucial to wildlife and carbon storage and vital for the people of Nuiqsut,” Jackson stated. “It’s deserving of future protection.”
The proposed seismic exploration area near the Colville River is critical for fish habitats in winter and is a caribou migration path, Jackson noted.
ConocoPhillips spokesperson Dennis Nuss described exploration as “temporary winter activity with minimal impacts,” emphasizing strict environmental standards. Nuss said the seven-day comment period allows for meaningful review and feedback.
The Biden administration approved the Willow project, despite opposition from environmental groups and Nuiqsut city. However, it extended protections across much of the 23 million-acre petroleum reserve, initially designated in 1923 for the Navy.
These protections are now under threat. Last month, the Trump administration announced plans to rescind a Biden-era rule for regional protection. Recently, Senate Republicans voted to overturn another rule limiting oil development.
The city of Nuiqsut and Native Village governments did not comment.
Jackson emphasized the region’s value, hoping the public recognizes its significance as a habitat for caribou and birds like yellow-billed loons.
Ahtuangaruak highlighted the area’s importance for community gatherings during seasonal harvests, underscoring its beauty and cultural significance.
“This area supports birds migrating nationwide. It’s crucial to protect them here and elsewhere,” she said. “The migration’s bird chorus is at risk for all.”
Original Story at insideclimatenews.org