Heinrich, Lowenthal Lead Bicameral Letter Urging Interior Department To Reverse Course On Massive Arctic Drilling Project

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and U.S. Representative Alan Lowenthal (D-Calif.) led a bicameral letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior urging it to reverse course on defending the Willow Master Development Project in Alaska’s Western Arctic. The lawmakers cited the irreversible damage the massive oil development project would have on the climate and the unique ecological and cultural values found on the North Slope. 

The letter, signed by 29 Senate and House Democrats, said, "We urge you to reverse course on defending the Willow Master Development Project (Willow Project). The Department of the Interior should rescind its approvals of Willow and reanalyze the project under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act to disclose its true impacts." 

ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project includes constructing oil drill sites in Alaska’s Western Arctic, public lands that provide essential wildlife habitat for polar bears, migratory birds, caribou, and other iconic species. 

"To achieve the climate, biodiversity and environmental justice actions the Biden administration promised, the Department cannot allow new, large-scale oil and gas projects to move forward without disclosing and considering the anticipated harm," the lawmakers continued.

In addition to Senator Heinrich and Representative Lowenthal, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and U.S. Representatives Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.), Jared Huffman (D-Calif.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.), Nydia M. Velázquez (D-N.Y.), Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), Grace F. Napolitano (D-Calif.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), Jerry McNerney (D-Calif.), Peter A. DeFazio (D-Ore.), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Mike Thompson (D-Calif.), Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-Ill.), and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

Read the full text of the letter below or by clicking here.

Dear Secretary Haaland,

We urge you to reverse course on defending the Willow Master Development Project (Willow Project). The Department of the Interior should rescind its approvals of Willow and reanalyze the project under the National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act to disclose its true impacts. We are concerned about the irreversible damage this oil development would have on our climate and the unique ecological and cultural values found on the North Slope. 

This project was identified for review in President Biden’s Day-One climate order. Interior’s continued defense of this project in court does not align with the climate, environmental justice, and biodiversity goals set out by the White House and Interior. This project’s projected emissions are counter to the international commitments this administration has made to constrain greenhouse emissions. To achieve the climate, biodiversity and environmental justice actions the Biden administration promised, the Department cannot allow new, large-scale oil and gas projects to move forward without disclosing and considering the anticipated harm. Indeed, the Trump administration’s analysis of Willow’s impacts has already been called into question by a federal appellate court, which resulted in the current pause on construction. We question why Interior has continued to defend Willow given this clear, court-ordered window of time to reevaluate the process used for approving the project. 

Development of Willow poses a significant risk to our climate with the potential to produce 590 million barrels of oil, or 260 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Willow would result in the loss of irreplaceable ecological and cultural values in America’s Arctic, and will further impact threatened polar bears. The proposed Willow Project would also directly impact the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, an area that had been protected for decades because of its cultural significance and ecological importance as one of the most unique wetlands complexes in the circumpolar Arctic.

This administration has set bold goals for meaningful climate action and the protection of biodiversity. A new oil project of this scale is at odds with those efforts. At a minimum, Interior must ensure that any authorizations it defends comply with relevant environmental laws. The Department’s approvals of Willow should be rescinded immediately. We urge you to honor your commitment in the Executive Order and at a minimum, promptly review the Trump administration’s approvals for Willow, and suspend any construction activities by ConocoPhillips in the interim.

Sincerely,