By Nancy Lord, Advocacy Committee Chair
In this challenging time, it’s difficult for all of us to know where to best put our energies. It’s easy to be so overwhelmed that we can be tempted to go silent.
Many of us last month were disheartened when the Secretary of the Interior Douglas Burgum announced, on what he called “Alaska Day,” orders to proceed with oil and gas and mining projects and road-building through and on conservation lands. These lands include the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, and Gates of the Arctic National Park.
Bergum announced signing an order to reopen the entire 1.56 million acre coastal plain (1002 area) of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development, reversing a Biden administration decision. He also announced signing an Agreement for the Exchange of Lands which completes the transfer of land out of the Izembek Refuge with transfer of title to the King Cove Corporation (KCC) for the purpose of building a road across the refuge including a portion designated Wilderness. The approved Ambler Road that will pass through Gates of the Arctic will also affect refuge lands in northern Alaska by increasing access, interrupting migration routes and crossing through watersheds that drain into the Kanuti, Koyukuk and Selawik refuges.
Importantly, all these lands were protected as conservation units by the Alaska National Interest Lands Act (ANILCA) of 1980. To so greatly erode their purposes—and the intent and interests of the American people—is not only a loss in Alaska but a precedent for doing more of the same on public lands throughout the country.
The Alaska delegation stood with the Interior Secretary and nodded vigorously during his announcements, eager for their visions of economic development in the state. They must hear from us to know that “drill baby drill” is not the position of all Alaskans and Americans. The fight is not over, as there will be environmental safeguards to try to secure as these projects advance. There will also be litigation, as the government tries to fast-track these projects by eliminating regulations.
Please take a few minutes this month to send a simple message to remind Congress of what we value. Something like, “Please protect our public lands including our national wildlife refuges, parks, and forests! These belong to all Americans and the generations to come and should not be degraded for short-term exploitation of their resources.” Personalized messages—like whether you hunt or fish or visit refuges to watch wildlife and birds, etc.–are always most effective.
Alaska’s two senators are Sen. Lisa Murkowski; 907-271-3735 and Sen. Dan Sullivan; 202-224-3004. Our House member is Rep. Nick Begich; 202-225-5765.
You can also reach them or any state’s delegation at the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
Photo Caption (above)
Nearly the entire world’s population of Pacific Black Brant were in the lagoons of Izembek in the past few weeks. One of the administration’s actions this month was transfer of title to land within the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to the King Cove Corporation so that a road could be built dividing the narrow neck of land between two world class eel grass lagoons. PC Alison Williams/USFWS