Public Lands Watch: ANWR and Monuments Updates

Updates on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and National Monuments

Two updates on issues that we have been following.

First, the Senate passed a tax bill that opens up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development – though an initial version of that provision which would have relaxed environmental review of development in the refuge was stripped out.  The bill likely will go to conference committee with the House version of the tax bill which did not have the refuge provision in it.  For additional discussion see our earlier post here.

Second, President Trump issued a proclamation significantly reducing two national monuments in Utah.  For analysis of the legal problems with the proclamation, see this recent Legal Planet blog post.  Lawsuits have already been filed.

Antiquities Act, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, national monuments, oil and gas development, public lands, Trump Administration