Annie Feidt, Alaska’s Energy Desk

A federal agency today said a permit application Pebble filed in late December is complete. It’s a highly technical document with details on what the controversial mine in Southwest Alaska could look like. But so far, nothing in the application is changing opponents’ minds.

2017 was the 13th warmest year on record in Alaska.

The draft plan includes the Arctic, but also waters where Alaskans haven’t contemplated oil development for many years, if ever.

December has been remarkably warm across Alaska.

Alaska is likely to stay warm this month, while much of the Lower 48 experiences a cold snap. The culprit is a feature of the jet stream called a Rossby wave.

Ice in the Chukchi Sea is at a record low for this time of year, by a wide margin.