Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, October 24-The U.S. Department of the Interior announced on the 23rd a plan to develop energy in Alaska, which includes opening the coastal plain of the state's National Arctic Wildlife Sanctuary to allow oil and natural gas exploitation there.

In a press release, the Interior Ministry announced that Alaska¡¯s coastal plains are home to America¡¯s most prospective yet undeveloped energy resources and play a key role in enhancing national energy security.The Interior Ministry decided to overturn the previous government¡¯s policy to restrict oil and gas extraction in Alaska, allowing the rental of the approximately 630,000 hectares of coastal plains for oil and gas extraction.

The interior ministry also announced that it will build a 17.7 km long road between Kinkov and Cold Bay airport under a land exchange plan, which will run through the Ishimbek national wildlife reserve.

In addition, the Interior Ministry has issued a permit for a roughly 340-kilometer road across the northwest of Alaska that leads to a number of undeveloped mines, including copper, uranium, uranium and uranium.

Interior Minister Douglas Bergam said: ¡°By resuming coastal plains (oil and gas mining projects) and advancing key infrastructure construction, we are strengthening energy independence, creating jobs... promoting Alaska¡¯s economic development.¡±

According to Alaska media reports, the U.S. federal government has called 23rd December ¡°Alaska Day¡±.Bergham, who signed the plan on the same day, said: ¡°This is our first, but not the last, ¡®Alaska Day¡¯.

However, some environmental groups and Alaska Native American groups call this day "Alaska Sell Day."

Dan Ritzman, head of the environmental organization Mountain Club, said: ¡°Today¡¯s announcement is the latest advance in Donald Trump¡¯s sale plan, which sells our most primitive landscape and natural heritage to polluting companies.¡±

Meeda DeWitt, head of the Wildlife Conservation Association in Alaska, said the survival of local indigenous peoples was closely linked to factors such as wildlife and ecological health, and that the plan was ¡°to put corporate interests above indigenous peoples.¡±

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Center for Biodiversity believes that building roads in the Isle of Man National Wildlife Reserve will jeopardize the migratory birds that live here.The center¡¯s head, Cooper Freeman, said he would file legal lawsuits with residents of two local villages.

The U.S. government approved the use of the coastal plains of Alaska's National Arctic Wildlife Refuge for leasing oil and natural gas during Trump's first term, a policy that was overturned after Biden became president. (Ou Sa)