The U.S. Interior Department will review the environmental impacts of a possible land swap deal that would allow a new road to cut through an Alaska wildlife refuge, it said on Wednesday.
The move comes two months after Interior Secretary Deb Haaland withdrew a Trump-era land exchange deal between her agency and the Alaska Native American-led King Cove Corporation, but said she would be open to considering other proposals to replace it.
In a notice published in the Federal Register, Interior said it would consider an exchange that would allow for a road corridor for noncommercial use through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and the Izembek Wilderness Area. Supporters of the swap say the road would give residents of King Cove, a small village of 1,000 people, access to an airstrip in nearby Cold Bay in case of medical or other emergencies.
Environmentalists have said a road would destroy valuable habitat for birds along Kinzarof Lagoon, and would set a dangerous precedent for other wildlife refuges. The deal set by former President Donald Trump's administration was controversial because it left open the door to commercial use of the road.Reporting by Nichola Groom; Editing by Aurora Ellis
France Dernières Nouvelles, France Actualités
Similar News:Vous pouvez également lire des articles d'actualité similaires à celui-ci que nous avons collectés auprès d'autres sources d'information.
Record flooding destroys homes and prompts evacuations in Southwest and Interior AlaskaFloodwaters rose fast on Saturday and receded Sunday in Circle on the Yukon River and Crooked Creek on the Kuskokwim, leaving behind damage, debris and icebergs.
Lire la suite »
As natural gas shortage looms, Alaska utilities and advocates feud over renewable power billThe two sides of the dispute agree on the need to wean Alaska’s power grid from its deep dependence on natural gas. But they disagree sharply about how quickly the transition should happen.
Lire la suite »
U.S. fighter jets intercept, escort Russian aircraft off Alaska’s coastU.S. fighter jets intercepted six Russian fighters and bombers flying off Alaska’s coasts last week, in an encounter during Alaska's Northern Edge military exercise.
Lire la suite »
Alaska Redistricting Board adopts final political map after landmark gerrymandering rulingThe Alaska Redistricting Board unanimously approved the state’s final political map Monday after twice being found engaging in unconstitutional partisan gerrymandering.
Lire la suite »
Filipino American History Month bill passes the Alaska LegislatureFreshman state Rep. Genevieve Mina says she's 'overwhelmingly proud' after the state Legislature overwhelmingly passed her first bill, establishing the month of October as Filipino American History Month in state statute.
Lire la suite »