President Obama is seeking to further protect vast treks of land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Republican lawmakers are furious.

On Sunday, the White House released a statement saying Obama would ask Congress to designate over 12 million acres within the refuge as “wilderness”. Such a designation would forbid any developments that may damage the natural landscape, such as building roads. More controversially, it would also deny any exploration or drilling of oil and gas. “Wilderness” is the government’s highest level of environmental protection and already applies to about seven million acres of the refuge.

President Obama is seeking the “wilderness” designation for the refuge “so that we can make sure that this amazing wonder is preserved for future generations,” according to a White House video. The pristine refuge is home to a tremendous variety of plant and animal life, including polar bears, grey wolves, caribou, and musk oxen.

Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska has been a controversial issue since 1977. The reason? Vast reserves of oil are believed to lie beneath the permafrost. According to a 1998 US Geological Survey, there is estimated to be between 5.7 and 16 billion barrels of crude oil and natural gas liquids in the coastal plain area.

One of the most determined advocates of oil exploration of the Arctic coastal area is Senator Lisa Murkowski (R – Alaska).

“What’s coming is a stunning attack on our sovereignty and our ability to develop a strong economy that allows us, our children, and our grandchildren to thrive,” Murkowski said in response to Obama’s announcement. “It’s clear this administration does not care about us and sees us as nothing but a territory. The promises made to us at statehood, and since then, mean absolutely nothing to them. I cannot understand why this administration is willing to negotiate with Iran but not Alaska. But we will not be run over like this. We will fight back with every resource at our disposal.”

Obama’s announcement is the first of a number of policy initiatives to be released over the upcoming weeks. The Interior Department is expected to issue a five-year plan determining what federally controlled waters are open to drilling and what are not.

There is little chance these policies will pass through a Republican dominated Congress, which is strongly opposed to Obama’s environmental agenda.