Murkowski Bill Directs At Least 2 Major Lease Sales In Arctic Refuge

"Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowksi (R-Alaska) released legislation Wednesday that would open Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas drilling for the first time in a generation by calling for at least two major lease sales over the next decade.

The budget measure directs federal officials to auction off mineral rights in areas encompassing at least 400,000 acres each in the refuge’s coastal plain, which is also known as its “1002 area.” The measure requires at least a 16.67 royalty rate and dictates that the revenues would be evenly split between the federal government and Alaska.

Surface development on the coastal plain must not span more than 2,000 acres, according to the bill."

Juliet Eilperin reports for the Washington Post November 8, 2017.