On March 18, BLM will hold an oil and gas lease sale for about 5.5 million acres within the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska.

This is the first sale in the area required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Under the act, the BLM is required to hold at least five lease sales in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve by 2035. Each sale must offer no less than 4 million acres.

Oil and gas activities in the reserve pose a threat to Arctic species. According to a report by The Wilderness Society, the area serves as critical habitat for caribou herds, migratory birds, wolverines, polar bears, and many other species. Industrial development also jeopardizes the livelihoods of indigenous people in the area.