Willow Project Update: Wins for the Arctic!
“ Quyanaqpak (thank you so much) to those who support this work! It's starting to feel like we have some room to breath and focus on building the change we want to see. “ - Nauri Toller
Willow Project Update by Nauri Toller, Environmental Justice Organizer, Native Movement
If you haven't heard, we have some great news for our land protectors! There have been some major events in the Arctic Slope of Alaska regarding oil and gas development. First, in the western arctic near the village of Nuiqsut (also referred to as NPRA), a court ruling voided ConocoPhillps' permits on the Master Willow Project, essentially halting the project. This is great news as residents have voiced major concerns over subsistence impacts, industry accountability and environmental damage.
There are two options the industry has now, file an appeal to the ruling or redo the environmental assessment addressing the legal and policy violations. What seemed like a long-shot lawsuit to some has become a very exciting win! Other big news to celebrate is the denial for processing seismic testing applications in the Refuge (also called the Eastern Arctic or ANWR) by the Department of the Interior (DOI). As far as we know they will not process any applications until the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) has been completed.
Commenting period for this ends on October 4th with zoom-based meetings being held on September 14th, 15th and 16th. For more information on the meetings and how to submit comments, visit the following link: https://www.blm.gov/press-release/blm-announces-public-meetings-supplemental-EIS-coastal-plain.
photo by Keri Oberly
Lawsuit Debrief & Summary courtesy of Earthjustice:
The Willow Project poses threats to the Western Arctic—and far beyond.
The project called for using giant chillers to refreeze the Arctic permafrost, which is melting due to climate change, in order to stabilize the ground for fossil fuel drilling.
ConocoPhillips would have built 37 miles of new gravel roads, seven bridges, an airstrip, and a gravel mine on public lands.
The project’s construction and daily operation would have devastated local wildlife, like polar bears, migratory birds, and caribou. It also would have jeopardized the health and traditional practices of nearby Alaska Natives.
Over its lifetime, Willow would have accelerated the climate crisis by releasing enough greenhouse gas emissions to equal that of 66 coal-fired power plants.
The Biden administration can’t uphold its stated climate goals and keep defending the Willow Project.
Despite a major legal setback this spring when a court halted the project and sharply critiqued the government’s analysis, Biden’s Department of Justice bafflingly continued the Trump administration’s defense of this climate threat.
Though the Biden administration has promised historic progress on fighting climate change, its support of Trump-era fossil fuel projects like Willow severely undermines U.S. climate goals.
What happens next?
The Interior Department must now go back and conduct a thorough environmental assessment before making a new decision.