Not so fast: Trump's Alaska drilling study slammed by U.S. wildlife regulator
Source: Reuters
SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS APRIL 26, 2019 / 12:53 PM / UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO
Not so fast: Trump's Alaska drilling study slammed by U.S. wildlife regulator
Valerie Volcovici
4 MIN READ
(Reuters) - The Trump administration failed to adequately consider oil spills, climate change and the welfare of polar bears in its expedited study of proposed drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, according to comments published by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this week.
The unusually harsh criticism from federal wildlife regulators could deal a blow to one of the most high-profile items in President Donald Trump’s energy agenda, and reflects the pitfalls of the administration’s drive to speed up big projects with quicker, shorter environmental studies.
The Interior Department wants to hold its first lease sale of at least 400,000 acres in ANWR, America’s largest wildlife sanctuary, later this year, but could face lawsuits if its permitting process is flawed.
The Fish & Wildlife Service said the ANWR Coastal Plain draft environmental impact study (EIS) failed to include oil spill response plans, analyze the effects of climate change on the Arctic, or ensure that surveys of polar bear denning habitats are required.
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Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-drilling-alaska/not-so-fast-trumps-alaska-drilling-study-slammed-by-u-s-wildlife-regulator-idUSKCN1S21WB