Alaska Congressional delegation comments on lockup, responsible energy development
President Donald Trump signed Senate Joint Resolution 80 into law last month which revokes restric- tions on drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Here are comments from mem- bers of Alaska’s Congressional delegation. “The Biden administration’s 2022 NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan was one of the most blatant examples of federal overreach we’ve seen in Alaska in decades,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan. “This plan effectively locked up about half of the National Petroleum Reserve — an area Congress explic- itly set aside for energy production, ignored Alaska Native voices, violat- ed clear congressional intent, and undermined our state’s ability to responsibly develop the resources that support our communities and strengthen our nation. “As I said in my remarks on the Senate floor, responsible resource development builds infrastructure, supports communities, creates good-paying jobs, and literally leads to my constituents living longer. I wish more of my Senate Democrat- ic colleagues recognized that truth and found the courage to stand up to the far-left Lower 48 eco-colonial- ists who are determined to lock up Alaska, kill good-paying jobs, and silence the people who live there. But I do want to thank the majority of my colleagues in the Senate who stood with me, Senator Murkowski, and Congressman Begich in passing
this resolution—restoring balance, upholding the law, and ensuring Alaska’s resources are managed responsibly for the benefit of our people, our economy, and America’s national security.” “In 2022, the Biden administration cut off access to millions of acres in our petroleum reserve and left only 52% of it available for potential energy leasing. Even as they relaxed sanctions on the likes of Iran and Venezuela, they ignored the require- ments of federal law, the views of North Slope leaders, our history of responsible production, and the need for energy security as they tried to block some of our state’s best opportunities,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski. “The passage of this disapproval resolution will help us restore bal- anced management in the NPR-A, allowing responsible development to occur as we protect sensitive areas and provide for subsistence rights. I credit Senator Sullivan for leading
this effort and hope the House will return to session very soon to take up this measure.” “The Biden Administration tried to lock up Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve under the guise of environ- mental protection — policies that did nothing but drive up costs, kill jobs, and keep America dependent on foreign energy. This reckless lock-up of the NPR-A ignored both the law and the people who live closest to these resources,” said Congressman Nick Begich. “Responsible development in the NPR-A means good jobs and greater energy security for our nation, and the passage of this joint resolution puts us one step closer to restoring Alaska’s right to responsibly develop our abundant resource potential. I thank Senators Sullivan and Murkowski for their leadership in the Senate on this important issue, and I look forward to advancing this reso- lution in the House to ensure Alas - ka’s voice is heard loud and clear.”
BLM reopens vast areas inside NPR-A for leasing One Big Beautiful Photo Courtesy ConocoPhillips Alaska ConocoPhillips, whose Willow discovery is in the northeast part of the National Petroleum Reserve (NPR-A), has proposed plans for a large exploration season this winter, which could set the stage for more discoveries.
would open nearly 82% of the 23-mil - lion-acre reserve to oil and gas leasing. The decision aligns management of the petroleum reserve with a 2020 NPR-A plan developed in President Donald Trump’s first term and replaces the previous land plan developed under former President Joe Biden that made about half of the reserve available. “This updated plan is a major step forward in restoring the National Petro- leum Reserve in Alaska to the purpose Congress intended,” for strategic do- mestic energy supply, said Acting BLM
Director Bill Groffy. “By opening more of the reserve to responsible develop- ment, we are helping meet national en- ergy needs while continuing the legacy begun in the 2020 plan for thorough environmental review and strong en- gagement with Alaska communities.” The Bureau of Land Management completed an environmental assess- ment to evaluate any new circumstanc - es and information that had emerged since 2020. As part of that process, the
Bill Act directed new lease sales The U.S. Bureau of Land Manage - ment has cleared the way for the first lease sale in years in the National Pe - troleum Reserve (NPR-A). The agen- cy approved an updated Integrated Activity Plan for land management for the NPR-A in late December that
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THE LINK: The Official Magazine of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance | WINTER 2026
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