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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-AK-R000-2024-0042-DNA
Project Name: Teshekpuk Lake Conservation Right-of-Way (TLCROW)

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-AK-R000-2024-0042-DNA
Project Name

Teshekpuk Lake Conservation Right-of-Way (TLCROW)
Project Type

DNA
NEPA Status

Completed - Completed
Lead Office

Arctic District Office
Last Updated

5/10/2026 5:00:00 PM

Project Description

The applicant, Nuiqsut Trilateral, Inc., requested to hold an approximately one-million-acre conservation right of way (ROW) that encompasses the core area around Teshekpuk Lake to protect the Teshekpuk Caribou Herd and its most important habitat for the duration of the Willow project. The proposed Teshekpuk Lake Conservation Right of Way fulfills a commitment the BLM made for compensatory mitigation in the 2023 Willow Decision.

The conservation ROW would prohibit new oil and gas leasing, as well as surface and subsurface exploration and development related to oil and gas within the conservation area (specifically, the surface or subsurface exploration, development, mining, or extraction of oil, gas, or other mineral resources, or sand or gravel in pursuit of oil, gas or other mineral resources, from the surface or subsurface, as well as the transportation of oil or gas over or across the conservation area through any means, including pipelines, and the construction of roads to support any of these uses, is prohibited).  The conservation ROW would terminate when the BLM issues a determination that all post-production reclamation activities associated with the Willow Project are complete and deemed substantially effective in restoring the caribou habitat and the population and health of the herd impacted by the Willow Project.

This conservation ROW would be in the northeastern portion of the existing 3.65-million-acre Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, which was designated in 1977 and detailed in the 2024 NPR-A rule. Though this right of way geographically overlaps with the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area, this effort is separate and distinct from the recently finalized NPR-A rule.

What's New

After careful review of the Teshekpuk Lake Conservation Right-of-Way (TLCROW), the Department of the Interior (Department) has determined that the TLCROW was improperly issued. In light of serious and fundamental legal deficiencies in the TLCROW, the Department determined that cancellation is appropriate.

On March 16, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of Alaska stayed the Department of the Interior’s decision to cancel the Right-of-Way issued to Nuiqsut Trilateral, Inc. (NTI) for lands within the Teshekpuk Lake Special Area on December 17, 2024. As a result, the Right of Way will remain in effect while the Court considers NTI's challenge to the cancellation decision. See Nuiqsut Trilateral, Inc. v. Burgum, No. 3:26-CV-00098-SLG, 2026 WL 734749, at *9 (D. Alaska Mar. 16, 2026).

Please see the Documents page for additional information.

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Barrow	Alaska	99723	North Slope Borough

Application Information

Applicant

Nuiqsut Trilateral Inc.
Program

Lands and Realty
Sub-Program

Rights-of-Way

Project Dates

Start Date

11/14/2024

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Arctic District Office
Offices

Arctic DO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Serena Sweet
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

(907) 271-4543