Anchorage, AK

The Bureau of Ocean and Energy Management (BOEM) opened and read the bids this morning for Cook Inlet federal offshore oil and gas lease sale #258.  After offering close to one million acres for lease, there was only one bid.  Hillcorp Alaska LLC bid $63,983 for one block.

Nicole Whittington-Evans, Defenders of Wildlife Alaska Program Director, released the following statement regarding the federal Cook Inlet offshore oil and gas lease sale:

"The 1970s heyday of Cook Inlet oil and gas development is long behind us as illustrated, once again, with today’s lackluster showing of only one bid by one company for offered federal offshore leases. Policy for Cook Inlet waters needs to keep pace with modern reality and focus on addressing the biodiversity and climate crises we face. The federal government must take aggressive measures to reduce disturbances and restore critically endangered Cook Inlet beluga whales, which have declined by 75%. And it must pivot to clean energy technologies and stop trying to double down on fossil fuel projects that undermine our climate goals."   

Cook Inlet beluga whale looking above water
Paul Wade/NOAA Fisheries

For nearly 80 years, Defenders of Wildlife has worked to protect and restore America’s wildlife at risk of extinction, advancing a vision of a future in which wildlife thrives, sustained by broad public support and a resilient network of healthy lands and waters. With a network of more than 2 million supporters, Defenders is an advocate for innovative solutions to safeguard wildlife for generations to come. To learn more, please visit https://defenders.org/newsroom or follow us on Instagram @defendersofwildlife.  

 

Media Contact

Laura Sheehan
Laura Sheehan
Senior Vice President, External Affairs
lsheehan@defenders.org
(202) 772-3244

News

Jake Li Testimony at EPW
WASHINGTON, D.C.

A Much-Needed Win for Wildlife: Senate Introduces Bill to Improve Endangered Species Act Implementation

Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Pete Rickets (R-NE) today introduced the Improving Species Recovery Act, an important bipartisan bill that would improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act.
Porcupine caribou making its way through deep snow on the East Fork of the Chandalar River
WASHINGTON, D.C.

Enough is Enough: Senate Blocks Yet Another Attempt to Prioritize Drilling in the Arctic

The Senate today blocked an attempt to pass S. 5438, introduced by Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK). The bill would have ratified and approved all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law necessary for the establishment and administration of the Coastal Plain oil and gas leasing program, among other purposes.
Visit the newsroom