Biden Restricts New Oil and Gas Leasing on 13 Million Acres of Alaskan Land

‘When you take off access to our resources ... this is the energy insecurity that we’re talking about,’ Rep. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) said.

Fish Creek through the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, managed by the Bureau of Land Management on Alaska's North Slope, on July 8, 2004. David W. Houseknecht/United States Geological Survey via AP

The Biden administration took action on Friday to restrict new oil and gas drilling on more than 13 million acres of land in the western Arctic region.

The U.S. Department of Interior announced the publication of a final rule on Friday, limiting future oil and gas leasing and industrial development in the Teshekpuk Lake, Utukok Uplands, Colville River, Kasegaluk Lagoon, and Peard Bay Special Areas. Together, these areas cover around 13.3 million acres of land in the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPR-A).