From PBS NewsHour.

The Trump administration is moving to open up a large chunk of Alaskan wilderness to oil and gas drilling that had been largely protected during the Biden administration. It’s the latest twist in the long-running fight over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and specifically the area’s Northern Coastal Plain. Its 1.5 million acres are believed to be rich in oil, but also a critical habitat for polar bears, caribou, and migratory birds.

Conservationists and tribal groups have long opposed drilling in the region. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says it will create jobs and support economic growth.

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