"Top Trump administration officials have said that they plan to hold an oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge before the end of the year. But that goal now appears out of reach because of two procedural steps still necessary before a sale can take place.
Each of those steps comes with a 30-day waiting period, said Brook Brisson, an attorney for Trustees for Alaska, the Anchorage-based environmental law firm that works with organizations fighting to block drilling.
“If they follow the procedures that are set out in statute and regulations, it does look as though the lease sale would get pushed into early next year,” Brisson said."
Nathaniel Herz reports for Alaska's Energy Desk November 1, 2019.