"U.S. Judge Denies Effort To Stop Drilling Auction In Arctic Refuge"

"A federal judge in Alaska ruled late on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s planned auction of oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) could proceed as planned on Wednesday morning.

The order by U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason comes after environmental groups and the indigenous people of northeastern Alaska sought a preliminary injunction to block the sale in the ecologically sensitive area.

The sale is scheduled for Jan. 6, but the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) started accepting bids at the end of last month."

Nichola Groom and Yereth Rosen report for Reuters January 5, 2021.

SEE ALSO:

"Trump Administration Readies Oil Bidding In Alaska Wildlife Refuge" (Reuters)