Trump edges closer to agreement for road construction within Alaskan wildlife sanctuary
The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Alaska, a biodiversity stronghold, is once again at the centre of a heated debate. The Trump administration is considering a deal to build a road through the refuge, a move that has sparked intense opposition from conservation groups and Alaska Native tribes.
The proposed road would connect King Cove with an airport in Cold Bay, providing emergency medical evacuations for the residents of King Cove. However, opponents argue that construction of the road would cause irreparable harm to wildlife and many Alaska Native tribes that rely on hunting and fishing.
The question of whether to allow the road has vexed federal officials for three decades. The Clinton administration helped broker a deal to spend more than $50 million on a hovercraft that covered the distance between King Cove and Cold Bay in 20 minutes. However, the hovercraft was abandoned in 2010 as too costly and incapable of operating in high seas or winds.
Michelle Sinnott, a staff attorney at Trustees for Alaska, stated that if the Interior Department finalizes the new deal, Trustees for Alaska and its clients would 'not stop fighting' to protect the refuge. Nicole Whittington-Evans, senior director of Alaska and Northwest programs at Defenders of Wildlife, echoed this sentiment, stating that Izembek is 'very, very deserving of protection.'
Izembek has enjoyed federal protections since President Jimmy Carter signed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or Anilca, in 1980. The refuge's wetlands contain some of the world's largest beds of eelgrass, attracting several species of migratory birds. In the winter, tens of thousands of Steller's eider sea ducks stop at Izembek to molt. In the spring and fall, the entire global population of emperor geese and Pacific black brant geese converge on the refuge to feast on eelgrass.
The deal involves transferring 490 acres of land within the refuge to King Cove, a tribal organization, in exchange for thousands of acres of King Cove's own land. Proponents of the road argue it is essential for connecting King Cove with an airport for emergency medical evacuations. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, has argued that critics of the project appear to be prioritizing birds over people who need potentially lifesaving care.
In a rare legal filing, former President Jimmy Carter wrote that allowing the road would allow future administrations to carve up millions of acres of lands practically at will. The Interior Department is committed to completing the process in full compliance with federal law and with robust public and tribal engagement.
As the debate continues, both sides remain firm in their positions. The fate of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge hangs in the balance, with the potential for significant environmental and societal impacts on either side of the decision.
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