Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting three lawsuits challenging the Trump administration’s decision to allow oil and gas development on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. The lawsuits were brought by Alaska Native villages and environmental groups, including Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The refuge, the largest in the United States, covers 1.6 million acres and is home to polar bears, caribou, and a wide variety of migratory birds.
The move marks a new phase in a long-running legal battle. In 2020, the Trump administration first opened the area for leasing for drilling, but received only three applications. Under President Biden, the process was paused, but after Trump’s re-election, the Department of the Interior in October again announced that the coastal plain would be opened for oil and gas projects. In response, the plaintiffs added to their original 2020 lawsuits.
In the brief, Brown and 13 other attorneys general argue that the drilling program would harm migratory birds, including Pacific loons, western sandpipers, and golden plovers, which migrate between Pacific states and the refuge. The document also points to a rushed and incomplete environmental review by the Bureau of Land Management that does not comply with laws governing national wildlife refuges. Citing state data, the authors note that hunting and birdwatching generate about $2 billion annually for Washington’s economy. The state has unique ecosystem diversity, ranging from the Pacific Ocean coastline to the Cascade Mountains and eastern desert plateaus. Millions of hunters and amateur birders spend money on licenses, gear, transportation, lodging, and food, boosting local businesses. For example, Olympic National Park or the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge each draw tens of thousands of visitors every year, and revenue from selling licenses and taxes on outdoor recreational goods directly supplements the budget.
The coalition of attorneys general—including representatives from California, Oregon, and other states—was led by Nick Brown. The brief also emphasizes that climate change is already driving rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and ocean acidification, and that new emissions from development would only make the situation worse. Washington is one of the leaders in the fight against climate change: more than 70% of the electricity generated in the state comes from hydropower on the Columbia River, producing a near low-carbon power system. In addition, the Climate Commitment Act, which requires cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050, is in place; electric vehicles are actively subsidized and charging infrastructure is being developed. The state is home to the headquarters of Microsoft and Amazon, which invest in renewable energy and carbon-neutral technologies—measures that place Washington at the forefront of U.S. climate policy. The lawsuits are also supported by the Venetie Village government, the Gwich'in Committee, and the Center for Biological Diversity. Protecting the Arctic Refuge remains one of the top environmental priorities for the Pacific Northwest states.
Based on: WA AG files brief opposing drilling in Arctic