On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received 13 bids on 552,802 acres of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. High bids totalled  $14,412,458.

The BLM responded to the bids and released the results here.

The first lease sale of the Coastal Plain has been called a failure by many as major oil and gas companies stayed away and high bids totalled less than 1% of the revenues proponents of drilling projected. “Weak Response to ANWR lease sale applauded by Yukon politicians, activists” CBC News, January 7, 2021.

~

Canada’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change responds to the lease sale of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Minister Wilkinson expresses concerns over sale of leases for oil-and-gas development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

“Canada continues to strongly oppose development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge due to the potential impacts on the Porcupine caribou herd and on Indigenous Peoples.”

~

Parties to the Canadian Porcupine Caribou Management Agreement respond to the lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Work to protect Porcupine caribou will continue.

“We will continue to work collaboratively to oppose oil and gas development in the ANWR protected areas and to protect the Porcupine caribou herd and its habitat, now and for future generations.”

~