Federal judge throws out Trump-era permits for large Alaska oil project – By Mark Thiessen and Becky Bohrer (Associated Press) / Aug 18 2021
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A federal judge on Wednesday threw out Trump administration approvals for a large planned oil project on Alaska’s North Slope, saying the federal review was flawed and didn’t include mitigation measures for polar bears.
U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Gleason in Anchorage vacated permits for ConocoPhillips’ Willow Project in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska in a 110-page ruling.
The Trump administration approved the project in late 2020, and the Biden administration defended the project in court.
Rebecca Boys, a ConocoPhillips’ spokesperson, said the company would review Gleason’s decision “and evaluate the options available regarding this project.”
