The Trump administration has moved to ease environmental oversight for Arctic oil and gas operations, exempting certain activities in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve from required reviews. The change specifically targets wintertime seismic surveys and related construction work, which will no longer face standard environmental assessments. Critics argue the decision could accelerate drilling without full scrutiny of potential ecological impacts. Supporters say it streamlines permitting for energy development in a region with vast untapped resources.
The Trump administration Thursday announced it would exempt some Arctic oil and gas exploration activities from environmental reviews. The Interior Department issued a notice exempting wintertime oil and gas exploration in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska from the reviews. The exemption will apply to seismic surveys to assess where oil is located, construction of...
