Overview
- Congress has approved four new oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and additional leases in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska to expand resource extraction.
- The administration is advancing the Ambler Mining District Industrial Access Project, proposing a 200-mile road through protected wilderness to open new mineral sites.
- Supporters, including regional Native corporations, say the projects will bring jobs and revenue, while tribal coalitions warn they threaten subsistence traditions.
- Severe fishing restrictions on the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers remain in place after a salmon population collapse, fueling fears that any spill could devastate stocks.
- Partnerships between private companies and Alaska Native corporations have led to clashes with indigenous shareholders over ecological risks and land stewardship.