JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge in Alaska on Friday rejected requests from environmental groups to halt winter construction work for the massive Willow oil project on Alaska’s North Slope while the groups’ legal fight over the drilling project wages on.
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason just last month upheld the Biden administration’s approval in March of the ConocoPhillips Alaska project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska and dismissed lawsuits brought by environmentalists and a grassroots Iñupiat group challenging Willow’s approval.
Those groups are appealing that decision and asked Gleason to block winter construction work planned by ConocoPhillips Alaska while the appeal is pending.
While ConocoPhillips Alaska had proposed five drilling sites, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management approved three, which it said would include up to 199 total wells.
Erik Grafe, an attorney with Earthjustice, which represents several environmental groups in one of the cases, said Gleason's decision was disappointing.
Persons:
Sharon Gleason, Gleason, Joe Biden’s, Rebecca Boys, Erik Grafe, Willow, ” Grafe
Organizations:
—, U.S, Biden, ConocoPhillips, National Petroleum Reserve, ConocoPhillips Alaska, U.S . Bureau of Land Management, Earthjustice
Locations:
JUNEAU, Alaska, ConocoPhillips Alaska, Willow