Administration’s OK of Hilcorp’s Liberty Project Violated Federal Law, Ignored Climate Change ANCHORAGE, Alaska— The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit today rejected the Trump administration’s approval of the first offshore oil-drilling development in federal Arctic waters. Hilcorp Alaska received approval in 2018 to build and operate the controversial Liberty project, an artificial […]
ANCHORAGE— Conservation groups Monday filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s approval of the first offshore oil drilling development in federal Arctic waters. Hilcorp Alaska received approval in October to build and operate the controversial Liberty project, an artificial drilling island and underwater pipeline that risks oil spills in the sensitive Beaufort Sea and threatens […]
WASHINGTON— The U.S. Supreme Court today declined a challenge to federal protection of bearded seals in Alaska under the Endangered Species Act. The National Marine Fisheries Service listed the species as threatened in 2012 upon concluding that climate change will destroy the sea-ice habitat the seals need to survive. The decision comes just two weeks […]
ANCHORAGE— A series of hearings opens in Alaska today on a proposal by Hilcorp Alaska to build an artificial oil drilling island and underwater pipeline in the Beaufort Sea. If approved, Hilcorp’s “Liberty” would be the first offshore drilling development project in federal Arctic waters, where President Trump has called for more leasing to oil […]