Alaska Approves Oil Exploration Near Yukon River

0:00It's March 23rd. This is Anchorage News Today, driven by AI. Alaska's Department of Natural Resources has tentatively approved oil and gas exploration on state-owned subsurface lands near the Yukon River. In the Yukon Flats area, this preliminary decision announced in a public notice on March 4th aligns with state goals to develop natural resources. Public comments are due by April 6th by email to the division. Hillcorp, an oil and gas company, has been active nearby with Doyon Limited, the regional Alaska Native Corporation. Last summer, they drilled an exploration well on Doyon-Leastland near Birch Creek, South of Fort Yukon, though plans for too well scaled back to. 1. The Yukon Flats feature vast wetlands prized for waterfowl, mostly within a national wildlife refuge. State control here covers only riverbeds and lakebeds following the 2019 Supreme Court ruling, which could complicate ownership if resources.

1:00Span split lands. This moved target so-called middle-earth, a huge unexplored region between the North Slope and Cook inlet with unknown potential. Officials note tech advances could improve surveys, providing valuable geological data, but Hillcorp's permit remains on hold, pending the full review. If approved, separate steps would evaluate Hillcorp specifically, with layers of state and federal oversight ahead for any drilling. For now, equipment lingers from last year's work, as partners eye the next season.