The federal district court for the District of Alaska denied without prejudice motions for a preliminary injunction barring issuance of oil and gas leases and authorization of seismic exploration on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The court found that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) had not taken final action on a seismic survey proposal, but that if BLM approved the proposal, the plaintiffs could seek injunctive relief at that time. The court further found that the plaintiffs did not establish a likelihood of imminent irreparable harm since the challenged Record of Decision did not authorize any immediate “on-the-ground activities” and plaintiffs did not establish a likelihood such ground-disturbing activities would occur before the court’s final ruling on the merits.

Challenge to federal review and approval of an oil and gas leasing program for the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Gwich’in Steering Committee v. Bernhardt

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Alaska Federal Court Declined to Bar Issuance of Leases on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Filed

United States of America

Alaska

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Alaska Federal Court Declined to Bar Issuance of Leases on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Economic sector

Finance