Arctic Refuge Protection Act Permanently Bans Oil Drilling, Designating 1.5 Million Acres as Wilderness

The newly introduced Arctic Refuge Protection Act is straightforward: it cancels the previously authorized oil and gas leasing program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and locks down a huge section of the land as permanent wilderness.

This bill, simply put, wipes Section 20001 of Public Law 115-97 off the books (SEC. 2). That specific section was what created the oil and gas program in ANWR. By repealing it, the bill effectively slams the door shut on future energy exploration in this sensitive area.

The Lock and Key: 1.5 Million Acres of Protected Wilderness

Beyond just stopping the drilling program, the Act takes a massive step toward permanent conservation. Section 3 officially designates approximately 1,559,538 acres within ANWR as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Think of this as taking a huge piece of land—roughly the size of Delaware—and making sure it stays exactly as it is.

This new designation is mandatory, overriding any conflicting laws, and the Secretary of the Interior must manage this land strictly under the rules of the Wilderness Act. For the average person, this means that the area is off-limits to development, roads, and motorized vehicles, ensuring that the wildlife habitat remains untouched. It’s a permanent commitment to conservation.

Who Feels This Change?

For most people working a 9-to-5 or running a small business, this bill doesn't directly change your commute or your grocery bill. However, it’s a big deal for the energy sector and environmental policy. Energy companies that might have been banking on future leasing opportunities in ANWR are now completely cut out (SEC. 2). This eliminates a potential future source of domestic oil supply, which could have long-term implications for global energy markets and pricing, though the immediate effect is negligible.

Conversely, environmental groups and those focused on wildlife conservation see this as a major win. The bill provides permanent, high-level protection for the Porcupine caribou herd calving grounds and other fragile Arctic ecosystems. It removes the uncertainty of future political battles over ANWR development, cementing its status as protected land (SEC. 3).