House Bill Paves the Way for Destructive Road through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 218, the “King Cove Road Land Exchange Act,” that would remove wilderness wetlands in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge from federal public ownership. If enacted, the legislation would give away internationally recognized wildlife habitat to the state of Alaska in exchange for comparatively lesser quality state lands in order to plow a road through the refuge.

Introduced by Representative Don Young (R-AK), H.R. 218 would cause irreparable damage to a globally important conservation area, threaten the survival of imperiled species, undermine environmental laws and jeopardize wildlife refuges and wilderness protections on public lands across the country. The legislation now awaits consideration by the U.S. Senate.

Statement from Defenders of Wildlife’s former President and CEO, Jamie Rappaport Clark:

“Removing longstanding federal refuge and wilderness protections in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to construct an unnecessary, destructive and unreliable road has dangerous policy implications for immensely valuable public lands protections nationwide.

“It is becoming increasingly clear that commercial interests are a driving force behind this costly road proposal which would cause irreparable damage to some of the most important wetlands on the planet.

“We urge the Senate to protect the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and its wildlife and wetlands from this harmful road proposal.”