Willow Project in Alaska Inching Forward as BLM Recommends Partial Approval

The Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has outlined a preferred alternative for ConocoPhillips’ Willow project proposed for Alaska, creating a path for possible approval for one of the largest oil and gas developments on public lands.

In a final supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) released Wednesday, BLM staff recommended approval of three of ConocoPhillips’ five proposed drilling sites in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPRA) and deferral of a fourth pad.

“Additional environmental analysis would be required to move forward with the deferred fourth pad, and the final record of decision may identify additional deferrals,” BLM staff wrote.

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