Judge Blocks Oil Lease Sale in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve

I'm Cory with the story, bringing you the latest from Anchorage News today.

A federal judge in Alaska has ruled that a native group's land agreement must stay in place for now, blocking a major oil lease sale in the national.

Petroleum Reserve

Judge Sharon Gleason issued the decision on Monday, keeping the new-except trilateral right-of-way fully effective.

This means the upcoming sale, covering 5.5 million acres with bids opening Wednesday, likely can include most of that protected area.

The agreement came from the Biden administration in 2024.

It was worked out by new-except city and travel governments along with coup-pick corporation in exchange for their backing of the Willow Oil Project.

The Trump administration later canceled it to open up more land for leasing.

Plaintus argued the cancellation violated their property rights, causing real harm right-of-way.

Judge Gleason agreed, saying no further proof of damage from future leases was needed.

This sets it apart from earlier cases where groups had to show bigger risks from potential development.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Land Management hasn't said yet how it will adjust the sale or handle bids already in.

The interior department is staying quiet so far.

A second lawsuit challenging the entire reserve management plan is still waiting on a ruling.

This lease sale pushes into new spots around to Shepaq Lake, home to a key caribou herd and migrating birds.

It follows a big congressional bill that rolled back protections and required more auctions.

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