Ranking Member Grijalva Supports the Interior Department’s Cancellation of Arctic Offshore Lease Sales

Washington, D.C. – Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) released the following statement today on the Department of the Interior’s announcement that they will, in light of current market conditions and low industry interest, cancel two potential Arctic offshore lease sales scheduled under the current five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program for 2012-2017. This decision follows Shell’s announcement of its exploration results at the Burger prospect in the Chukchi Sea and that the company will terminate further offshore Alaska exploration activity for the foreseeable future.

“This decision is a huge win for the environment and for common sense. Big Oil had its chance in 2012 and it failed. It had its chance this year and came up dry. Thankfully, we’re not going to make the same mistake three times. I commend President Obama and Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell for their foresight in recognizing that oil companies shouldn’t be allowed to continue to play with fire when it comes to an area as precious and fragile as America’s Arctic.”

Press Contact

Media Contact: Diane Padilla

(202) 226-3522 or (202) 510-6181

• Print
• Email
• Tweet