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Deadline to comment on adverse rule-making about Alaska wild areas 8/4/25
Deadline to comment on adverse rule-making about Alaska wild areas – BLM proposes to rescind the- “Management and Protection of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska” final rule. Comments must be received by August 4th, 2025
EarthJustice has a pre-fab online comment letter on drilling in arctic: https://earthjustice.org/action/the-western-arctic-is-under-threat-protect-one-of-the-most-important-ecosystems-on-earth?ms=web
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the Searchbox, enter “BLM-2025-0002” and click the “Search” button. Follow the instructions at this website. We have not checked but assume the deadline is 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time on August 4th, 2025
Federal Register notice:
Take action to protect Teshekpuk Lake and other special areas within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.
We urge the federal government to not move forward with this proposed rule. Below are quotes from a National Audubon Society letter on this issue:
“The NPR-A is a vast approximately 23-million-acre area (similar in size to the state of Indiana) on Alaska’s North Slope. The NPR-A is world famous for its ecological value, providing critical wildlife habitat for millions of migratory birds that come from six continents, including threatened species like Spectacled Eider and Steller Eider. It is home to several caribou herds, including the famous Teshekpuk Lake Caribou Herd, which are vital for ecosystem balance and provide subsistence to five Indigenous communities. Its coastal areas provide denning habitat for polar bears and land areas for walruses and seals, which are critical for reproduction and rest. Moreover, the rivers and lakes in the NPR-A support diverse fish populations, including Arctic char and whitefish, critical to food webs and human diets…..
Recission of the rule will have an outsized impact on North Slope communities, especially those closest to industrialization. The rule explicitly incorporates government-to-government consultation, mandates inclusion of Indigenous Knowledge, and promotes tribal co-stewardship in land management decisions. Removing protections jeopardizes species and landscapes fundamental to subsistence resources and traditions.
More than 90% of public commenters supported the rule during both draft and final stages, underscoring the broad support that exists for this rule.
Finally, the impact of rescinding this rule could be devastating to a vast number of birds and other wildlife. Bird populations are in decline, with a loss of 3 billion birds in North America since 1970, and numerous species of birds are now listed under the Endangered Species Act, primarily due to habitat loss. Rescission could lead to additional habitat loss for some of our most vulnerable species, and discourage proactive measures, which will only make it harder for species to recover.”