ニューヨーク・タイムズのインスタグラム(nytimes) - 8月17日 23時56分

The Trump administration finalized a plan to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development, which will probably spur a legal battle over the fate of a vast, remote Alaska habitat.

The Interior Department said on Monday it had completed its required reviews, clearing the way for the government to auction off leases later this year to companies interested in drilling inside the refuge’s coastal plain, which is believed to sit atop enough oil to fill billions of barrels but is prized by environmentalists for its pristine landscapes and wildlife.

Companies that bought leases could begin the process of exploring for oil and gas, although actual production would still require additional permitting and is unlikely to occur for at least a decade, if at all.

Drilling opponents are expected to file lawsuits to try to delay or block the leasing plan. Environmental groups have already been arguing that the Interior Department failed to adequately consider the effects that oil and gas development in the region could have on climate change and local wildlife such as caribou and polar bears.

Tap the link in our bio to read more. Photo by Christopher Miller.

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