"The survey would bring heavy trucks looking for signs of oil reserves into one of the most remote and pristine parts of the United States."
"The Trump administration has relaunched long-delayed plans to conduct a seismic survey in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as a prelude to drilling for oil there.
The Bureau of Land Management on Friday released a proposal to begin a seismic survey in December that would look for underground signs of oil reserves over more than half a million acres on the east side of the refuge’s coastal plain. The Bureau said it would accept public comments on the plan, which was proposed by an Alaska Native village corporation, for 14 days before deciding whether to issue a permit.
Environmental and conservation groups in Alaska and elsewhere immediately criticized the action, saying it would permanently harm the delicate Arctic tundra and affect polar bears and other wildlife in what is one of the most remote and pristine parts of the United States. They also said that the rapid time frame meant that a thorough environmental review would not be possible."
Henry Fountain reports for the New York Times October 24, 2020.
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