Administration of Trump moves closer to agreement for building a road in Alaska's wildlife sanctuary
The proposed road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska continues to be a decades-long issue, but a new direction is emerging. The current proposal, distinct from the land swap proposal offered last year, involves the King Cove Corporation, an Alaska Native Corporation, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Under this new proposal, the local corporation would exchange less refuge land for the land used to build the road. The proposed 10-mile-long gravel road aims to provide access to an all-weather airport in Cold Bay for residents of King Cove during harsh winter months, enabling them to transport sick or injured individuals to hospitals hundreds of miles away.
The new agreement, if authorized, would allow King Cove Corp. to build the road through the refuge. Negotiations regarding the proposed road are still ongoing, with Gary Hennigh, the city administrator for the town of King Cove, and POLITICO's E&E News having access to the discussions.
The Fish and Wildlife Service has reviewed a document regarding the new proposed road corridor. However, the new proposal is not yet finalized, and the service is currently considering its approval.
In a significant development, the Trump administration is planning to abandon the land swap proposal for the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, as offered last year by the Interior Department under Secretary Deb Haaland. Instead, the department is considering a new agreement for a road corridor.
The proposed road through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is intended to benefit the residents of the coastal community of King Cove, as well as King Cove Corp. If built, it would mark a significant change in the long-standing debate over the road's construction. The outcome of the negotiations and the Fish and Wildlife Service's decision remain to be seen.
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