Trump Rushes to Sell Oil Drilling Rights in Arctic Refuge

Thursday, December 03, 2020

Before Biden's Term In a last-minute push, the Trump administration announced Thursday that it will auction off drilling rights in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in just over a month, setting up a final showdown with opponents before President-elect Joe Biden takes office.

Posted by Corky at 05:33 PM | 22 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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"The announcement of a lease sale comes sooner than some expected: The Bureau of Land Management did not wait for the comment and nominations period to officially end before scheduling a sale date.

The sale, which is now set for Jan. 6, could cap a bitter, decades-long battle over whether to drill in the coastal plain, and it seals the administration's efforts to open the land to development. But the Trump administration's plan for the sale may also draw legal challenges from drilling opponents, who could target the aggressive timeline in court.

Environmental groups have vowed to continue to fight to keep drill rigs out of the coastal plain and have filed lawsuits challenging the Trump administration's environmental reviews.

Biden has also said he opposes drilling in the refuge. But if leases are finalized before he takes office Jan. 20, they could be difficult to revoke."

#1 | Posted by Corky at 2020-12-03 03:39 PM | Reply

I'm naive to the ways of these things so pardon if this is a stupid question...

Would a company even buy a lease under these conditions? I'd have to imagine they won't want to engage in legal battles and certainly wouldn't bite if the next administration can revoke the lease.

Or is this a situation where once sold the sale can't be undone?

#2 | Posted by jpw at 2020-12-03 03:45 PM | Reply

Sierra Club exists to buy these leases.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2020-12-03 03:47 PM | Reply

Oh, and ---- Trump and ---- anybody who supports that pile of ----.

#4 | Posted by jpw at 2020-12-03 03:48 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 3

If I'm not mistaken, these leases aren't going anywhere. Every bank that issues loans for oil exploration are united in opposition to any and all lending related to this 11th hour backdoor attempt by Trump.

No money, no fields.

#5 | Posted by tonyroma at 2020-12-03 04:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Bank of America said Monday that it would not finance oil and gas drilling projects in the Arctic, the latest large US bank to take the step long sought by environmental advocates.

A Bank of America spokesman confirmed the decision to AFP after it was initially reported by Bloomberg.

"Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Chase, Wells Fargo and Citi have all announced similar policies this year," the NGO said in a statement.

"It has long been clear that drilling in the Arctic Refuge would trample indigenous rights, threaten vulnerable wildlife and worsen the climate crisis," said the Sierra Club's Ben Cushing.

"Now that every major American bank has stated unequivocally that they will not finance this destructive activity, it should be clearer than ever that any oil company considering participating in Trump's ill-advised lease sale should stay away."

With oil prices low at around $45 per barrel, it is also not clear how much interest the leases will generate, given their location far from major infrastructure and the costs required.

www.france24.com

#6 | Posted by tonyroma at 2020-12-03 04:38 PM | Reply

Hopefully a Russian bank will step up!
Signed,
GOP

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2020-12-03 04:44 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 3

Yup, watch he'll sell the rights to a Russian company financed with money from Alpha Bank, and Putin will skim off his usual 40%. This is Dotard's final french kiss to his tiny, balding lover.

#8 | Posted by _Gunslinger_ at 2020-12-03 05:45 PM | Reply

How low will he go?!?

#9 | Posted by LostAngeles at 2020-12-03 06:34 PM | Reply

Good for Trump. He's trying to keep the energy sector from collapsing.

#10 | Posted by darkmatter at 2020-12-03 08:01 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

How low will he go?!?

#9 | POSTED BY LOSTANGELES

He hasn't gone NAFTA low like Bill Clinton did.

#11 | Posted by darkmatter at 2020-12-03 08:12 PM | Reply

He's trying to keep the energy sector from collapsing.

The energy sector is collapsing? Donnie is saving it?

Man. That's funny.

#12 | Posted by ClownShack at 2020-12-03 08:33 PM | Reply

He hasn't gone NAFTA low like Bill Clinton did.

Another good reason to get money out of politics.

#13 | Posted by ClownShack at 2020-12-03 08:35 PM | Reply

So you agree that Clinton was another establishment politician?

#14 | Posted by darkmatter at 2020-12-03 09:13 PM | Reply

Good for Trump. He's trying to keep the energy sector from collapsing.
#10 | POSTED BY DARKMATTER

It's always a special moment when new accounts declare their love for government intervention in the free market.

#15 | Posted by snoofy at 2020-12-03 09:58 PM | Reply

So you agree that Clinton was another establishment politician?
#14 | POSTED BY DARKMATTER

They've all been the same my entire life.

Except Trump, who is a narcissist, a demagogue, and a dictator.

#16 | Posted by ClownShack at 2020-12-03 10:12 PM | Reply

Which Clinton are we talking about here?

Only one was supposed to be worse than Trump...

#17 | Posted by snoofy at 2020-12-03 10:23 PM | Reply

Only one was supposed to be worse than Trump

Clearly Bill would beat Donnie.

No contest.

#18 | Posted by ClownShack at 2020-12-03 10:50 PM | Reply

Clinton was worse, and not. Bosnia,NAFTA,Rwanda. Clinton was a cynical exploitive type but had a good rap for seeming caring to dumbasses. His administration did a lot of damage. Trump is worse than Clinton,but not by much,and in different ways.

They both deserved to be impeached and removed.

They both coursened and defiled the office.

They both were more appetite than policy.

#19 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2020-12-04 01:05 AM | Reply

Talk about looting. I guess this type of criminality means nothing to these MAGGOTS?

#20 | Posted by tknees at 2020-12-04 01:24 PM | Reply

Would a company even buy a lease under these conditions? I'd have to imagine they won't want to engage in legal battles and certainly wouldn't bite if the next administration can revoke the lease.
Or is this a situation where once sold the sale can't be undone?
#2 | Posted by jpw

Most of the legal battles will be fought between the US Government and various environmental groups. You get to pay all the legal bills to defend these suits with your tax money. The lease decisions have been so rushed that they will probably be hard to defend and hopefully a new administration won't try too hard.

I've been to ANWR. It's an amazing place. There's nothing like it in the world and drilling would destroy it.

#21 | Posted by SomebodyElse at 2020-12-04 02:20 PM | Reply

For personal kickbacks to his Legal Defense Fund I am sure...

#22 | Posted by earthmuse at 2020-12-05 02:42 PM | Reply