Environment | Law

Alaska plans to sue DOI over controversial road for Native village

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

The state of Alaska plans to sue the Obama administration for rejecting a controversial road that would benefit a Native village.

The state is citing a historic right of way through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The 44-mile route connects King Cove, an Aleut village, with an air strip in Cold Bay.

“In just the last several weeks, serious health-related evacuations have shown just how critical a road for medical evacuations is for residents," Gov. Sean Parnell (R) said in a press release.

Notice was sent to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, who rejected the road, under Revised Statute 2477. The law recognizes historic and informal routes through federal lands.

Get the Story:
Alaska to sue for road through wildlife refuge (AP 4/7)
Alaska governor's office will sue feds for Cold Bay-King Cove road (Alaska Dispatch 4/7)
Izembek Road Dispute May Be Headed to Court (KUCB 4/8)
Alaska invokes Civil War-era law in lawsuit for Izembek road (Greenwire 4/8)
Why Alaska’s governor plans to use a 150-year-old law to sue the federal government (The Washington Post 4/8)

An Opinion:
Jim Lieb: Migratory birds are not at issue with Izembek road - so what is? (The Anchorage Daily News 4/8)