The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released a disappointing final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) for the proposed Willow Master Development Plan oil and gas project today, relying again on hasty and deficient analysis to assess the impacts that the massive ConocoPhillips’ proposal would have on local communities, Arctic wilderness, water and animals and the global climate. If approved, this project would be the largest on public lands and would set back our national climate goals tremendously.
After learning this news, Defenders of Wildlife’s Alaska Policy Advisor, Pat Lavin released the following statement:
“If approved, Willow would be the largest oil extraction project on federal lands in the U.S. It would drive massive carbon emissions with devastating climate outcomes. The Biden administration should reject this project as proposed. “This project will impact designated critical habitat for Southern Beaufort Sea polar bears, one of the most imperiled polar bear populations in the world, and will significantly impact the Teshekpuk Lake and Colville River Special Areas. It will also encourage further westward expansion of oil industry infrastructure, locking in unnecessary carbon pollution, habitat loss, and fragmentation.
“Overwhelming public and scientific input has demonstrated the threat this proposal poses to the Arctic region and the people and animals who live there. Willow would pollute water and air, disrupt animal migrations, destroy animal habitat, spew out as much carbon as running 76 coal plants for a year, and serve as a hub for future oil and gas industrialization and pollution for decades to come.
“The Biden administration can still deliver another climate and biodiversity victory by saying ‘no’ to this project. We hope BLM will protect the western Arctic and put the health of local people and wildlife before the profits of corporations and be a global leader in taking real and enduring climate action.”
BLM must wait at least 30 days before issuing a Record of Decision on Willow.
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.
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