Interior Approval of Conoco Drilling in Alaska Draws Lawsuit

The Trump administration illegally approved an oil and gas development project by ConocoPhillips Alaska Inc. despite threats to the wildlife and people of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in a Alaska federal court.

The complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska centers on the Bureau of Land Management’s approval of the Willow Master Development Plan.

Willow is estimated to hold between 400 and 750 million barrels of oil, and ConocoPhillips has said it will use “chillers” to keep permafrost frozen and stop its rigs in the reserve from falling over ...