Congress is once again floating the idea of using projected oil and gas revenues from leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to offset rising deficits. But new lease sales in the Refuge aren’t just a bad fiscal bet — they also threaten one of Alaska’s most dependable economic engines: outdoor recreation.

Last month, seven oil and gas leases covering more than 365,000 acres in the Arctic Refuge were reinstated to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority, a corporation that is state-owned and publicly funded but operates with incredibly limited legislative and public oversight — not an oil and gas company. Despite the political fanfare, this isn’t a win for the industry or taxpayers; it’s a clear reminder that private energy companies have higher priorities than the Arctic Refuge.