Biden Reinstates Protections on Alaska Public Lands

The Biden administration has reinstated protections against mining and oil and gas development on 28 million acres of public lands in Alaska, reversing decisions made in the final days of the Trump administration. This move, supported by many Alaska Native tribes and environmental groups, aims to safeguard vital natural, cultural, and subsistence resources. The Department of the Interior cited legal flaws and inadequate analysis in the previous administration's efforts to lift these protections. The Bureau of Land Management received overwhelming public support for retaining the protections, which are crucial for subsistence hunting and fishing. Alaska's governor criticized the decision, arguing it undermines the state's economic development. The protected lands include regions such as Bristol Bay, Bering Sea Western Interior, and the Ring of Fire.