"Biden Administration Limits Oil and Gas Leasing in Alaska's Petroleum Reserve"
The Biden administration has announced restrictions on new oil and gas leasing in 13 million acres of Alaska's federal petroleum reserve to protect wildlife and address climate change, finalizing protections proposed last year. The decision comes after the approval of the contentious Willow oil project drew criticism from environmentalists. The administration also recommended rejecting a state corporation's application for a proposed road to allow mining of critical mineral deposits. Alaska's political leaders have accused the administration of harming the state's development of oil, gas, minerals, and timber, while environmentalists and some groups have praised the decision as a crucial step in protecting the Arctic's ecological value.