Help Save Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

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Forwarded Message

 

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* WILD ALERT

* Thursday, May 24, 2001

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Dear WildAlert Subscriber,

 

Never say never. Three years after losing a battle in

Congress to build a $30 million road through the

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness in

Alaska -- and receiving $37 million for alternatives

in the process -- supporters of the road have forced

the Army Corps of Engineers to consider the road in a

new proposal. It was a bad idea then, and it's a bad

idea now. Send your comments to the Corps by June 4

--

http://www.wilderness.org/ccc/alaska/izembek.htm

 

SPECTACULAR WILDERNESS

The spectacular Izembek National Wildlife Refuge lies

at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula. Designated a

" Wetland of International Importance " and including

federally designated Wilderness, it provides important

seasonal habitat for many waterfowl, including the

entire population of Pacific Black Brant, half of the

world's Steller's Eiders (a threatened species),

Emperor Geese, Tundra Swans, and Harlequin Ducks. It

also prime habitat for brown bears, caribou, and

salmon.

 

CONGRESS HAS SAID NO TO THE ROAD

You may remember a big fight in Congress several years

ago about a $30 million road through the remote

Wilderness of the Izembek Refuge. Thanks to the

outrage of thousands of Americans, Congress decided

not to build this harmful road connecting the villages

of King Cove and Cold Bay, and instead gave the local

government (the Aleutians East Borough) $37.5 million

for road, ferry, airport, and medical improvements.

 

The law passed at the time states: " in no instance may

any part of such road, dock, marine facilities or

equipment enter or pass over any land within the

Congressionally-designated wilderness in the Izembek

National Wildlife Refuge. " Section 353, FY 1999

Omnibus Appropriations Act.

 

$37.5 MILLION ISN'T ENOUGH

But now, the Aleutians East Borough wants to re-open

this hard-won compromise and take another look at

building a road through the Izembek Refuge's

federally-designated Wilderness. Using their political

muscle, they have forced the US Army Corps of

Engineers to include several alternatives in an

upcoming King Cove Access Environmental Impact

Statement (EIS) that require a road through the

Wilderness.

 

TAKE ACTION

The US Army Corps is taking " scoping " comments on a

total of 14 alternatives for the EIS, but only through

*June 4.* Your comments are needed urgently. Send a

pre-written letter today from

http://www.wilderness.org/ccc/alaska/izembek.htm or

send them directly.

 

Tell the Army Corps:

 

- In submitting scoping comments on the King Cove

Access EIS, you are concerned about the important

waterfowl, Wilderness, and wetlands of the Izembek

National Wildlife Refuge, which belongs to *all*

Americans.

 

- Eliminate all alternatives which require a road

through the Izembek Refuge or Wilderness. Such

alternatives clearly violate the intent of Congress.

 

- Avoid the Kinzarof Lagoon, which is important to

many waterfowl species and other wildlife and would be

damaged by road access and hovercraft traffic.

 

- Choose the alternative which connects Lenard Harbor

and Cold Bay with a conventional ferry.

 

- Don't waste any more US taxpayer dollars on harmful

roads that have no place in National Wildlife Refuges

or Wilderness areas.

 

Send your comments to:

Ms. Kathleen Kuna

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CO-R

Post Office Box 898, Anchorage, AK 99506-0898

FAX: (907) 753-5567

EMAIL: Kingcove.comments

 

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For a full list of Action Items, visit

http://www.wilderness.org/whatcan/takeaction.htm

 

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An archive of past WildAlerts can be found at

http://www.wilderness.org/wildalert/wildalerts.htm

 

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