"Monday U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, told reporters, “The Biden administration announced that it was in essence taking half of the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska, what we call NPR-A, off the table. This is shortsighted. It won't help, certainly, Alaskans. It won't help our energy independence. It's something that I'm sure Vladimir Putin was pleased by.”

Worst, he said, the administration didn’t heed local interests. He introduced Inupiaq leaders to describe those interests. Josiah Patkotak represents the North Slope and Northwest regions of Alaska in the state legislature and is a project manager for ASRC Eskimos, Inc. He’s also a whaler.

He’s critical of the Biden administration’s plan to reduce the leasable area in the NPR-A. Under President Donald Trump, 82 percent of the reserve, or 18.6 million acres of land, was available for development. Under Biden, 52 percent, or almost 12 million acres, is available."

Joaqlin Estus reports for Indian Country Today May 3, 2022. [2]