Judge Vacates Land Exchange, Halts Road Through Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

A federal judge today vacated an illegal closed-door deal between the U.S. Department of the Interior and a for-profit Alaska Native corporation, King Cove Corp., that exchanged a 10.5-mile corridor of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness lands to enable a 18.9-mile gravel road connecting King Cove and Cold Bay. U.S. District Court of Alaska Judge Sharon Gleason found that the federal government violated the National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act, the Endangered Species Act and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

“We’re grateful that the Court recognized what we’ve been saying for years,” said Jane Davenport, a senior attorney with Defenders of Wildlife. “The Trump administration simply cannot ignore the law and force a land exchange to build a road that would tear out the heart of Izembek’s world-class wildlife habitats, wetlands and wilderness. We will continue to fight for the integrity of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and our federal conservation statutes.”

While the threat to Izembek National Wildlife Refuge is paused for now, KCC and the State of Alaska are moving forward quickly to build a 2.8-mile road segment leading to refuge and wilderness lands on KCC-owned lands that are within the refuge. Defenders of Wildlife filed a new lawsuit challenging an illegal Refuge Act authorization for that segment and will move for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to halt construction.  

Background

In October 2025, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum agreed to transfer roughly 484 acres of congressionally designated refuge and wilderness lands to King Cove Corp. to enable a road between King Cove and Cold Bay. Defenders filed suit challenging the exchange for violating the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act and the Wilderness Act. Today’s ruling found in favor of Defenders on one of its Refuge Act claims and did not rule on its remaining claims.

Located on the Alaskan Peninsula between the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska, the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness provide irreplaceable habitat for hundreds of terrestrial and aquatic species. It is an essential migration stopover for millions of waterfowl, including the Pacific black brant, Taverner’s cackling goose, emperor goose and tundra swan. The refuge is vital habitat for Endangered Species Act-protected species such as the northern sea otter, Steller sea lion and Steller’s eider as well as robust populations of caribou, brown bears, and Pacific salmon.