§3143. Production of oil and gas from Arctic National Wildlife Refuge prohibited

Production of oil and gas from the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is prohibited and no leasing or other development leading to production of oil and gas from the range shall be undertaken until authorized by an Act of Congress.

( Pub. L. 96–487, title X, §1003, Dec. 2, 1980, 94 Stat. 2452 .)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Alaska Oil and Gas Leasing

Pub. L. 119–21, title V, §50104, July 4, 2025, 139 Stat. 142 , provided that:

"(a) Definitions.-In this section:

"(1) Coastal plain.-The term 'Coastal Plain' has the meaning given the term in section 20001(a) of Public Law 115–97 (16 U.S.C. 3143 note) [set out below].

"(2) Oil and gas program.-The term 'oil and gas program' means the oil and gas program established under section 20001(b)(2) of Public Law 115–97 (16 U.S.C. 3143 note).

"(3) Secretary.-The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management.

"(b) Lease Sales Required.-

"(1) In general.-Subject to paragraph (3), in addition to the lease sales required under section 20001(c)(1)(A) of Public Law 115–97 (16 U.S.C. 3143 note), the Secretary shall conduct not fewer than 4 lease sales area-wide under the oil and gas program by not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act [July 4, 2025].

"(2) Terms and conditions.-In conducting lease sales under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall offer the same terms and conditions as contained in the record of decision described in the notice of availability of the Bureau of Land Management entitled 'Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska' (85 Fed. Reg. 51754 (August 21, 2020)).

"(3) Sale acreages; schedule.-

"(A) Acreages.-In conducting the lease sales required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall offer for lease under the oil and gas program-

"(i) not fewer than 400,000 acres area-wide in each lease sale; and

"(ii) those areas that have the highest potential for the discovery of hydrocarbons.

"(B) Schedule.-The Secretary shall offer-

"(i) the initial lease sale under paragraph (1) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act;

"(ii) a second lease sale under paragraph (1) not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act;

"(iii) a third lease sale under paragraph (1) not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act; and

"(iv) a fourth lease sale under paragraph (1) not later than 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

"(4) Rights-of-way.-Section 20001(c)(2) of Public Law 115–97 (16 U.S.C. 3143 note) shall apply to leases awarded under this subsection.

"(5) Surface development.-Section 20001(c)(3) of Public Law 115–97 (16 U.S.C. 3143 note) shall apply to leases awarded under this subsection.

"(c) Receipts.-Notwithstanding section 35 of the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 191) and section 20001(b)(5) of Public Law 115–97 (16 U.S.C. 3143 note), of the amount of adjusted bonus, rental, and royalty receipts derived from the oil and gas program and operations on the Coastal Plain pursuant to this section-

"(1)(A) for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2033, 50 percent shall be paid to the State of Alaska; and

"(B) for fiscal year 2034 and each fiscal year thereafter, 70 percent shall be paid to the State of Alaska; and

"(2) the balance shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts."

Oil and Gas Program

Pub. L. 115–97, title II, §20001, Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2235 , provided that:

"(a) Definitions.-In this section:

"(1) Coastal plain.-The term 'Coastal Plain' means the area identified as the 1002 Area on the plates prepared by the United States Geological Survey entitled 'ANWR Map – Plate 1' and 'ANWR Map – Plate 2', dated October 24, 2017, and on file with the United States Geological Survey and the Office of the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior.

"(2) Secretary.-The term 'Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Land Management.

"(b) Oil and Gas Program.-

"(1) In general.-Section 1003 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 3143) shall not apply to the Coastal Plain.

"(2) Establishment.-

"(A) In general.-The Secretary shall establish and administer a competitive oil and gas program for the leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain.

"(B) Purposes.-[Amended section 303(2) of Pub. L. 96–487, listed in a table under section 668dd of this title.]

"(3) Management.-Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Secretary shall manage the oil and gas program on the Coastal Plain in a manner similar to the administration of lease sales under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) (including regulations).

"(4) Royalties.-Notwithstanding the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), the royalty rate for leases issued pursuant to this section shall be 16.67 percent.

"(5) Receipts.-Notwithstanding the Mineral Leasing Act (30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.), of the amount of adjusted bonus, rental, and royalty receipts derived from the oil and gas program and operations on Federal land authorized under this section-

"(A) 50 percent shall be paid to the State of Alaska; and

"(B) the balance shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.

"(c) 2 Lease Sales Within 10 Years.-

"(1) Requirement.-

"(A) In general.-Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall conduct not fewer than 2 lease sales area-wide under the oil and gas program under this section by not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act [Dec. 22, 2017].

"(B) Sale acreages; schedule.-

"(i) Acreages.-The Secretary shall offer for lease under the oil and gas program under this section-

     "(I) not fewer than 400,000 acres area-wide in each lease sale; and

     "(II) those areas that have the highest potential for the discovery of hydrocarbons.

"(ii) Schedule.-The Secretary shall offer-

     "(I) the initial lease sale under the oil and gas program under this section not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act; and

     "(II) a second lease sale under the oil and gas program under this section not later than 7 years after the date of enactment of this Act.

"(2) Rights-of-way.-The Secretary shall issue any rights-of-way or easements across the Coastal Plain for the exploration, development, production, or transportation necessary to carry out this section.

"(3) Surface development.-In administering this section, the Secretary shall authorize up to 2,000 surface acres of Federal land on the Coastal Plain to be covered by production and support facilities (including airstrips and any area covered by gravel berms or piers for support of pipelines) during the term of the leases under the oil and gas program under this section."