Interior Secretary David Bernhardt Monday announced the official decision to proceed with oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, according to APM. The decision opens up the entire coastal plain — 8 percent of the refuge — to drilling.

The Interior Secretary says he hopes the first auction for drilling rights can take place within the year. Once drilling rights are sold, it will be harder for a future president to reverse course.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski called today’s action a “capstone moment.” She and every member of Alaska’s congressional delegation has pushed to allow drilling in the area since the law creating the refuge was signed in 1980. Environmental groups have fought to keep rigs out of the Arctic Refuge for just as long.