The Trump administration on Monday began a formal push that possibly could allow oil and natural gas leases to be auctioned in Alaska’s pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) before Joseph R. Biden Jr. is sworn into office in January.

Alaska ANWR NPRA

According to a preliminary notice in the Federal Register to be published on Tuesday, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office will call for nominations on lease tracts for an upcoming Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Lease Sale. 

“Receiving input from industry on which tracts to make available for leasing is vital in conducting a successful lease sale,” said BLM’s Chad Padgett, Alaska state director. “This call for nominations brings us one step closer to holding a historic first Coastal Plain lease sale,” which would...