http://www.doi.gov/news/pressr...-wildlife-refuge.cfm


Obama Administration Moves to Protect Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Recommends Largest Ever Wilderness Designation to Protect Pristine Habitat

01/25/2015
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WASHINGTON, DC – President Obama’s Administration moved to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, widely considered one of the most spectacular and remote areas in the world. The Department of the Interior is releasing a conservation plan for the Refuge that for the first time recommends additional protections, and President Obama announced he will make an official recommendation to Congress to designate core areas of the refuge – including its Coastal Plain – as wilderness, the highest level of protection available to public lands. If Congress chooses to act, it would be the largest ever wilderness designation since Congress passed the visionary Wilderness Act over 50 years ago.

Watch the President discuss the announcement here.

“Designating vast areas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as Wilderness reflects the significance this landscape holds for America and its wildlife,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “Just like Yosemite or the Grand Canyon, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of our nation’s crown jewels and we have an obligation to preserve this spectacular place for generations to come.”

Today’s action builds upon years of public engagement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revise the Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and complete an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as required by law. The plan will guide the Service’s management decisions for the next 15 years.

Based on the best available science and extensive public comment, the Service’s preferred alternative recommends 12.28 million acres – including the Coastal Plain – for designation as wilderness. The Service also recommends four rivers – the Atigun, Hulahula, Kongakut, and Marsh Fork Canning – for inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System.

Currently, over 7 million acres of the refuge are managed as wilderness, consistent with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980. However, more than 60 percent of the refuge – including the Coastal Plain – does not carry that designation.

Designation as wilderness would protect and preserve the refuge, ensuring the land and water would remain unimpaired for use and enjoyment by future generations. Only Congress has the authority to designate Wilderness areas and Wild and Scenic Rivers.

Recommendations for Wilderness or Wild and Scenic River designations require approval of the Service Director, Secretary of the Interior and the President. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today released the revised comprehensive conservation plan and final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While the Service is not soliciting further public comment on the revised plan/EIS, it will be available to the public for review for 30 days, after which, the record of decision will be published. At that point, the President will make the formal wilderness recommendation to Congress.

“The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge preserves a unique diversity of wildlife and habitat in a corner of America that is still wild and free,” said Service Director Dan Ashe. “But it faces growing challenges that require a thoughtful and comprehensive management strategy. The incorporation of large portions of the refuge into the National Wilderness Preservation System will ensure we protect this outstanding landscape and its inhabitants for our children and generations that follow.”

The revised plan/EIS addresses a variety of issues, including the protection of wildlife populations and their habitats, opportunities for fish- and wildlife-dependent recreation, subsistence needs of local inhabitants, and other public uses. The plan also strengthens wildlife and habitat monitoring, as well as the monitoring of public use of the refuge so as to better respond to changing conditions on the landscape, particularly those associated with climate change.

The 19.8 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to the most diverse wildlife in the arctic, including caribou, polar bears, gray wolves, and muskoxen. More than 200 species of birds, 37 land mammal species, eight marine mammal species and 42 species of fish call the vast refuge home. Lagoons, beaches, saltmarshes, tundra and forests make up the remote and undisturbed wild area that spans five distinct ecological regions.

The refuge holds special meaning to Alaska Natives, having sustained their lives and culture for thousands of years. The Gwich’in people refer to the Coastal Plain of the refuge as “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins,” reflecting the area’s importance to their community, maintaining healthy herds of caribou and an abundance of other wildlife.

More information will be available at www.fws.gov

So not being up on government regulations..... would this help or hurt hunting in the area?

Would we still be able to fly in on a bush plane if it is designated a wilderness?

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
So not being up on government regulations..... would this help or hurt hunting in the area?

Very little our government does helps anything.

The way that I understand Wilderness areas, planes may or may not be allowed. Each wilderness area has a few rules unique to it based on the need of the area.

Jeremy

I'd say, only to designated air strips
That how it is here in Montana
I seriously doubt they'd let you land anywhere once it is designated WA

quote:

Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
So not being up on government regulations..... would this help or hurt hunting in the area?

They can draft anything the want into the Management Plan. Hunting or not, planes or not, atv's, campfires, whatever.

Oil Development for AK is a mixed something. For the last decade while per barrel prices were high our state deferred, dawdled, delayed and maybe was a little dim witted. What's available in ANWR? Who cares? AK and its government in Juneau won't capitalize no matter what's the bounty.

For me the issue isn't oil in ANWR,..... the need to re designate federal land for the sheer pomp and circumstance of it rather than give real teeth to the current management authority in place.

ANWR, Yellowstone, Gettysburg and The Everglades don't need new or special designations. There are Management Authorities in place that can allow or not any development. If the Authority had the "teeth to back up the bark," or actually used the teeth,......well,.....we'd not have Obama headlines in this case.

Designating Wilderness won't affect outdoor recreation in ANWR unless Management intends to, regardless the designation.

quote:

the need to re designate federal land for the sheer pomp and circumstance of it

Bingo.

The sheer arrogance of Obama is unbelievable. He could care less what impact his actions will have on Alaska or Alaskans.

I can hear the Boston Pop's on 4th July ..The Masters Grand Finale will be off the Charts...

obama is a dink. This is seems to have the air of more grandstanding, bit of a win-win for the jackass..
Gets to look good for the tree huggers that just know the evil Alaskans are out to kill the wolf, and rape the land. With the added bonus of sending Alaska (perhaps not 100% pro-obama..) a little "screw you"...

Does it sound like I dislike the peckerwood in chief?..

Originating from SW Colorado, which means also just a stone's throw from Utah as well, "Canyon of the Ancients" was my playground, the point to note here is that More Authority given to Federals over land comes within wilderness designation, is never a good idea. Arbitrary actions, closings, rules, etc. follow close behind. Taxation without representation for truly, there is no real recourse unless you have a few million to spend in Federal Court. Oil, mineral, timber, any other natural resource, hunting, subsistence living rights, all access rules, fall whim to the bureaucrats in charge. End of story.