National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
RSSNews from National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, Alaska
Interior lets BLM skip environmental assessments for qualifying NPR-A winter exploration
Starting Friday, qualifying winter oil exploration in the petroleum reserve can skip a separate environmental assessment, barring extraordinary circumstances.
by Walter AlaskaNews6d ago2 min read
North Slope oil throughput back above 500,000 barrels a day, former commissioner says
North Slope oil is back above 500,000 barrels a day, at least on some days. Oil-tax defenders credit the 2013 tax law and expect a fight in Juneau.
by Bill AlaskaNews1w ago2 min read
Seoul protested U.S. Alaska LNG announcement, says investment remains under review
White House officials and Alaska leaders announced $50 billion-plus in Korean money for Alaska LNG. Seoul says it agreed only to review it, and protested.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago4 min read
Written comments on Willow drilling and injection rules are due Tuesday unless a Nov. 4 hearing is held
BLM wants to approve some NPR-A oil sites in 60 days by doing the big review once, up front. Here's what that means, and where Nuiqsut and others stand.
by Walter AlaskaNews1w ago4 min read
State raises minimum bids to $35 an acre in annual North Slope and Beaufort Sea oil and gas lease sales
The state's yearly North Slope lease sale is back with a pricier entry fee: minimum bids rise from $25 to $35 an acre. Results come out Nov. 18.
by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read
Three virtual hearings this week will take comments on BLM's Arctic fast-track
Three virtual hearings begin Tuesday on a 60-day Arctic permitting rule that BLM says could roughly double development.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
ConocoPhillips' Disclosed Alaska Royalties Fell 58% in Two Years
ConocoPhillips paid $37.97 million in royalties on its federal Alaska leases last year, down 58 percent from 2023, partly on lower oil prices.
by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read
BLM Rule Would Cut NPR-A Pad Approvals to 60 Days, Limit Hunting
The BLM's own analysis found a proposed drilling rule would significantly restrict subsistence hunting for three North Slope villages. Hearings begin Monday.
by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago3 min read
A federal rule would let NPR-A drilling spread pad by pad, skipping environmental study
A federal rule would let oil drilling spread across NPR-A pad by pad — each new site fast-tracking the next and skipping the environmental study now required.
by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
BLM rule would let NPR-A operators waive subsistence conditions without public notice
A new BLM rule lets oil and gas operators in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve waive mitigation conditions, including four protections for subsistence hunting, without public notice.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read
ConocoPhillips drilled in the NPR-A this winter and has not said what it found
ConocoPhillips drilled multiple wells in the NPR-A this winter and added $104 million to costs it has not resolved. It has not said what it found.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read
A proposed rule would cut years of NPR-A oil review down to 60 days
Building an oil site in the NPR-A takes years of review. A proposed rule makes it 60 days for anything within 25 miles of existing infrastructure.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago4 min read
A fight over whether North Slope oil money stays local or goes to the whole state
Alaska's bigger cut of North Slope oil revenue has set off a fight over whether it stays with the communities nearest the drilling or goes to the whole state.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago7 min read
Heat advisory warns of 80 degrees near Umiat Sunday afternoon
National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the area near Umiat forecasting 80 degrees Sunday afternoon, though no North Slope villages fall within the warning zone.
by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read
Kaktovik residents press North Slope Borough on cracked homes
Kaktovik and Nuiqsut residents told the North Slope Borough Assembly that homes are cracking and settling, and asked for repairs and new programs to address the damage.
by Walter AlaskaNews2mo ago4 min read
A federal royalty-rule change could shortchange the states and tribes it's owed to
A federal plan to simplify mineral royalties could shortchange states, tribes, and Native owners, as an audit finds the agency isn't collecting what it's owed.
by Maggie AlaskaNews3mo ago1 min read
North Slope Borough Assembly approves $6.6 million in grant appropriations
Grants included $2m for Wildlife programs, nearly $1m for home leveling in Nuiqsut, etc.
by Alaska News4mo ago1 min read
Federal appeals court clears Alaska to release NPR-A drilling data
A federal appeals court ruled Alaska can release ConocoPhillips exploration well data from the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska after the state's confidentiality period expires, rejecting the company's claim that federal law blocked disclosure.
by Bill AlaskaNewsadded 4mo ago2 min read
Trump order on off-road vehicle rules could reshape Alaska federal-land access fights
Trump rescinded executive orders requiring federal agencies to minimize off-road vehicle damage to wildlife and soils, potentially reshaping access rules on Alaska's 60 percent federally owned lands.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Aspect Holdings addresses $100B Alaska projection, contested Teshekpuk lease
Aspect Holdings won eight Alaska lease blocks projecting $100 billion in state revenue. • One contested block near Teshekpuk Lake faces a lawsuit from a Native organization. • Seven uncontested blocks expected to be finalized soon. • Company estimates 20 billion barrels of recoverable oil remain on North Slope.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
House Republicans examine $24.8M in federal attorney fees to environmental groups
House Republicans examined $24.8M in federal attorney fee awards to environmental nonprofits from 2019 to 2024. • Critics say uncapped fee-shifting laws let nonprofits bill at rates far above market rates, sometimes 700 percent markups. • Alaska mining, oil, and timber projects have faced years of litigation delays funded partly by taxpayer attorney fee awards.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago4 min read
Begich cites $163M Alaska oil lease sale as proof federal certainty drives investment
Rep. Nick Begich cited a record $163 million Alaska oil lease sale as evidence that federal policy certainty drives energy investment, and called for faster permitting to unlock Alaska's oil, gas, and geothermal resources for national security.
by Walter AlaskaNews4mo ago2 min read
Senate adds $156M to capital budget, prioritizes deferred maintenance
Alaska Senate added $156 million to the capital budget for deferred maintenance at schools, universities, and state facilities after oil prices rose beyond the governor's projections.
by Alaska Newsadded 5mo ago5 min read
