Arctic Refuge Protection Act

This bill would stop future oil and gas development on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain and permanently protect that area as wilderness. It repeals the existing Arctic Refuge oil and gas program and adds about 1,559,538 acres of the coastal plain to the National Wilderness Preservation System, to be managed by the Interior Department as part of the Refuge’s existing wilderness areas.

What this means in everyday terms: the coastal plain of the Refuge in Alaska would be set aside for conservation, not drilling, to safeguard its natural landscapes and wildlife for future generations.

Key points

• Who is affected: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain, people who value conservation and outdoor recreation, and companies interested in oil and gas there.
• What changes: The oil and gas program is repealed; about 1.56 million acres are designated as wilderness and managed by the Interior Department under the Wilderness Act.
• When: These changes take effect upon enactment of the bill; the designated area follows a map dated October 20, 2015.