Biden Administration Move to Cancel ANWR Leases Raises Serious Legal Questions

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The White House today announced it plans to cancel several leases for energy exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska.

Director of CEI’s Center for Energy and Environment Myron Ebell said:

“In 2017, Congress passed a law ordering the executive branch to organize and execute energy exploration leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While the Trump Administration complied with the law by signing leases in January of 2021, the Biden Administration announced today it plans to cancel these contracts. Perhaps Congress will ask the Biden Administration to actually provide reasons why these legally-mandated contracts are canceled.”

CEI attorney Devin Watkins said:

“The government cannot enter into a contract to take over $14 million and then invalidate the contract without cause. No cause for canceling the ANWR leases has been provided.”