As the partial government shutdown drags on, the Trump administration is making sure some Interior Department employees continue work on one of its biggest, most controversial priorities: opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
Elizabeth Harball, Alaska's Energy Desk
What does the Dunleavy administration mean for the proposed Pebble Mine?
Officially, Gov. Mike Dunleavy is not taking a position on the mine, unlike his predecessor, Gov. Bill Walker, who opposed it. But the new governor is already making moves that have encouraged the mine’s backers and worried its opponents.
Trump administration takes next step towards oil lease sales in ANWR
The Trump administration is releasing the draft environmental impact statement for an oil leasing program in the refuge’s Coastal Plain.
Environmental groups sue Trump administration to halt Arctic drilling project
A coalition of environmental groups are suing the Trump administration to challenge what would be the first oil production facility in Arctic federal waters, claiming the federal government’s analysis leading to its approval was faulty.
This winter, a major oil exploration effort is happening in a familiar place: Prudhoe Bay
BP is undertaking a massive effort to get the clearest picture yet of what the Prudhoe Bay oil field looks like. The idea is that, after all these years, there’s more oil at Prudhoe Bay to drill, but it’s in smaller, harder-to-find pockets.
State and police investigating accident that led to North Slope worker’s death
According to the North Slope Borough chief of police Jeffrey Brown, Shawn Huber died in an accident at the Milne Point facility on Friday, December 7. Huber was 36.
Judge dismisses challenges to oil lease sales in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska
Environmental groups had argued the federal Bureau of Land Management did not do an adequate environmental review before it held oil lease sales in 2016 and 2017.
A week after the Anchorage earthquake, city continues to find damaged homes
Anchorage is still coming to grips with the extent of the damage on buildings and homes following the 7.0 earthquake that struck the region on Nov. 30.
Alaska railroad on the way to recovery following severe earthquake damage
According to an Alaska Railroad spokesperson, thanks to the speed of repairs, trains are likely to start running again by early this week.
Following earthquake, significant road damage around Southcentral Alaska
As of Saturday morning, the state Department of Transportation had documented over 40 damaged sites. Drivers are advised to add significant time to their commute if they plan on traveling through those areas.