Ranking Member Grijalva Commends Cancellation of Oil and Gas Leases in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Statement

"Of all the Trump administration's shameless gifts to Big Oil, the ANWR leasing program had to be one of their most egregious. They illegally cut corners on environmental reviews, ignored major concerns from the Gwich'in who rely on the region's caribou for subsistence, and peddled exaggerated job and revenue claims--all just so Big Oil could unenthusiastically throw a few bucks at a couple of leases that clearly didn't interest them much.

The ANWR lease sale never should have happened. I'm glad to see the Biden administration putting our legal and moral responsibilities to protect our environment, listen to tribes, and do right by American taxpayers above polluter profits with this decision. I'm also pleased to see the administration prioritizing the conservation of the arctic landscape by moving forward to protect 13 million acres in the NPR-A. There's no question that climate change is already taking its toll in the arctic, but decisions like these will help us mitigate some of its worst effects."

Source