Washington D.C. — Today, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced a request for information seeking public input on how to expand protections for key areas in the Western Arctic, which encompasses more than 23 million acres of public lands in Alaska. This announcement builds on the administration’s historic action to conserve more than 13 million acres of America’s Western Arctic. In response, Nicole Gentile, senior director for Conservation at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This move to gather information on the most ecologically and culturally important areas in the Western Arctic is a meaningful step to limit the damage of reckless oil and gas drilling on pristine and vulnerable public lands. Places such as Teshekpuk Lake and Colville River are vital habitats for caribou and migratory birds and significant for Alaska Native subsistence that should be conserved. They should be protected from short-sighted development and pollution. By seeking input on how to safeguard America’s most valuable public lands, the Biden administration is furthering its historic commitment to community-oriented conservation and stewardship of America’s lands and waters.
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For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].