|
"The Road to Nowhere"
Propsed Road Through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
Latest News
June 26, 2009: On June 16, 2009 Alaska Governor Sarah Palin wrote a letter to Secretary Salazar requesting that the Interior Department initiate an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed road and land exchange.
The 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Bill signed by President Obama in late March 2009 requires that an EIS be prepared under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine the road’s impact on refuge wildlife and habitat. Upon completion of the EIS, Secretary Salazar must deem the land exchange to be “in the public interest” before construction could begin. In the event that the road and land exchange fail to meet that standard, the land will remain federal property managed by the refuge and will not be transferred to the state of Alaska.
To begin the NEPA process, the state must first convey its intent to transfer state land in exchange for the federal land as part of the agreement. In her letter to Secretary Salazar signed June 16, 2009, the Republican former vice-presidential nominee stated that the exchange is indeed Alaska’s intent and requested that the Interior Department begin the NEPA process as soon as possible. Whether this satisfactorily meets the requirements of the law is not yet known, as Governor Palin still needs the state legislature to approve the land exchange. As noted in the letter, although the Alaska State House has passed legislation approving the land exchange, the State Senate will not be able to do so until after the January 2010 resumption of their current session.
NWRA, the Friends of Alaska NWRs and our conservation partners have already had meetings with officials at the Department of the Interior and will be working closely to ensure the Secretary issues a determination that the road is not in the public interest.
Read the letter from NWRA and 16 conservation organizations to Secretary Salazar urging him to reject the “Road To Nowhere”.
Read NWRA's Statement of Position on final passage of "Road To Nowhere" provision.
Background on The Road to Nowhere
NWRA and the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges released “The Road to Nowhere,” urging Congress to reject H.R. 2801 and S. 1680, bills which would authorize the construction of a gravel road through the heart of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, a globally significant Alaskan wilderness area.
|
The proposed road through Izembek NWR would have treacherous driving conditions and would cost the American taxpayer at least $30 million. ©FWS |
This Road to Nowhere is a problem Congress has already solved; further debate is a waste of time and taxpayer dollars. In 1998, King Cove residents argued they lacked adequate access to medical and airport facilities. In response, Congress allocated $37.5 million for medical and airport improvements and a 98-foot hovercraft that has successfully provided rapid medical evacuations.
The road would have detrimental effects for the region’s wildlife. Its construction could have devastating impacts on more than half a million Pacific black brant, emperor geese, swans and other wildlife, resulting in fragmentation, disturbance, and pollution.
The road would be built through a congressionally designated wilderness, where by definition, humans leave no mark. Precedent would be set, opening the door for other wilderness areas to be destroyed. Further, the National Wildlife Refuge System’s principles established in the “National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997” would be reversed.
This road would cost American taxpayers additional millions of dollars for building and maintenance costs. King Cove has already spent $26 million on the 17.6 mile road to the hovercraft terminal but because of harsh terrain, they have only completed 10.4 miles. It will cost at least $30 million more to complete the road through the Izembek Isthmus Wilderness.
Izembek in the News
|
The 98 foot Suna-X hovercraft can travel in wave heights up to 10 feet 6 inches and winds over 45 miles per hour, and can carry 50 passengers, an ambulance and freight. To date it has completed at least 32 medevacs, saving lives and giving it a 100% success rate. |
6/16/09: Governor Sarah Palin's Letter to Secretary Ken Salazar requesting commencement of Izembek road project
4/2/09 New York Times Article: Enviro groups press Salazar to kill Alaska road project
3/20/09 Washington Post Article: Road Through Alaskan Refuge Wins Senate Backing
1/14/09 AP Article: Critics decry land bill's Alaska `Road to Nowhere'
12/8/08: Senator Feingold's Dear Colleague Letter
11 /26/08: New York Times Letter to the Editor by NWRA President, Evan Hirsche
11 /9/08 Washington Post Article: Proposed Road in Refuge Raises Fears About Drilling
9/18/08 New York Times Editorial: First a Bridge, Now a Road
9/15/08 Press Release: Gov. Sarah Palin Supports a New “Road To Nowhere;”
Senate Committee Approves Treacherous Road Cutting Through Protected Alaska Wilderness
9/11/08 AP Article: Palin-backed wilderness road passes Senate panel
4/26/08 New York Times Editorial: Mr. Young Wants Another Road
4/24/08 Press Release: House Committee Abandons Common Sense in Favor of the “Road To Nowhere”
4/14/08 Updated Fact Sheet: Fact Sheet Regarding the Proposed Road Through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge
7/23/07 Press Release:
Alaska Senator, Congressman Introduce Bills to Build "Road to Nowhere" in Biological Heart of Wilderness Area
7/15/07 Comprehensive Report from NWRA and Friends of Alaska NWR's: The Road to Nowhere
How can you take
action to save Izembek NWR today?
NWRA is working full-time on intensive grassroots, Congressional and media outreach. To underwrite these efforts and ensure victory, we need your help TODAY! Contribute to the "Stop the Road to Nowhere" Campaign!
You can make your voice heard by utilizing the Refuge Action Network (RAN), a free, fast and easy way to respond to important national wildlife refuge alerts. Using the RAN system, you can send an e-mail or fax (even if you don't own a fax machine) to your elected officials with a click or two of your mouse. Just visit refugenet.e-actionmax.com to learn more about how you can help oppose the Road to Nowhere!
|
