Conservation organizations and an Iñupiat-aligned group filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to block federal approval of an exploratory drilling program in the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, arguing the decision was rushed, improperly analyzed, and threatens caribou populations and critical Arctic habitat.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) last month approved a one-year exploration plan proposed by ConocoPhillips Alaska, which includes seismic surveys to identify potential oil and gas deposits and the drilling of four exploratory wells. According to the lawsuit, the activities would take place near existing ConocoPhillips developments, including the massive Willow oil project.
The complaint was filed by Earthjustice on behalf of Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, the Center for Biological Diversity, and The Wilderness Society. It alleges that the federal review process lacked transparency and moved forward with minimal public input. The plaintiffs say BLM issued its final approval just days after a limited public comment period closed.
“BLM has pushed this project through without proper analysis or process and without considering the significant flaws in the mitigation measures it relies on to justify its approval,” the lawsuit states.
The suit names BLM, its parent agency the Department of the Interior, and senior officials — including Interior Secretary Doug Burgum — as defendants.
An Interior Department spokesperson said the agency does not comment on pending litigation.
A ConocoPhillips Alaska spokesperson, Dennis Nuss, said the company remains confident in its permits and environmental reviews and plans to carry out the work during the limited Arctic winter exploration season.
The legal challenge comes amid renewed debate over the future of the National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska, a region roughly the size of Indiana. President Donald Trump’s administration has moved to reverse drilling restrictions and environmental protections put in place under President Joe Biden. A law passed earlier this year mandates the first lease sales in the reserve since 2019.
Those efforts have been welcomed by Alaska’s Republican governor and congressional delegation but criticized by environmental advocates, who warn that expanded oil development conflicts with climate goals and threatens sensitive ecosystems. The reserve includes Teshekpuk Lake, the largest lake in Arctic Alaska and a vital habitat for migratory birds and caribou.
Nauri Simmonds, executive director of Sovereign Iñupiat for a Living Arctic, said the exploration plan represents more than environmental risk.
“This proposal is not only an assault on caribou and tundra,” Simmonds said. “It is another chapter in the enfoldment of our people into systems designed to fracture us from within.”
