Local residents outraged by new plans for massive area teeming with life: 'He's fixated'

[Judi Lynn]

Story by Leslie Sattler • 1h • 3 min read



Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — home to polar bears, caribou, and countless other species — is once again in the crosshairs as President Donald Trump's new administration rolls out plans for oil and gas drilling in one of America's last untouched wilderness areas, reported IFLScience.

What's happening?
Hours after his Jan. 20 inauguration, Trump signed an executive order targeting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The order aims to end the temporary ban on fossil fuel activities in the refuge while opening additional parts of Alaska for gas and oil extraction.

The directive also attempts to undo former President Joe Biden's suspension of oil drilling permits in the region.

Trump's order states: "The State of Alaska holds an abundant and largely untapped supply of natural resources including, among others, energy, mineral, timber, and seafood. Unlocking this bounty of natural wealth will raise the prosperity of our citizens while helping to enhance our Nation's economic and national security for generations to come."

Why is drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge concerning?
This 78,000-square-kilometer rolling tundra and wetlands area hosts an incredible array of wildlife, including bears, moose, wolves, and eagles. An estimated 11 billion barrels of oil lie beneath it.

More:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/local-residents-outraged-by-new-plans-for-massive-area-teeming-with-life-he-s-fixated/ar-AA1zYm8Y?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=d2ca4674e5a046278679f1da5d6e66e6&ei=36