The Department of the Interior a revised plan to better manage and sustain the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska and designate 12 million acres of the refuge as wilderness.
The proposal would quash the possibility of drilling for oil in the region鈥檚 much-contested Coastal Plain. Only Congress can approve the designation but until then the area will be covered under the new protections.
The proposed protected areas include 1.52 million acres of Coastal Plain, 5.85 million acres of the Brooks mountain range and 4.92 million acres of the Porcupine Plateau, . The wilderness designation would bar motorized access and development, including development of new roads.
鈥淎laska鈥檚 National Wildlife Refuge is an incredible place鈥攑ristine, undisturbed. It supports caribou and polar bears, all manner of marine life, countless species of birds and fish, and for centuries it supported many Alaska Native communities,鈥 President Obama . 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 very fragile.鈥
Opponents of the move consider it another example of regulatory excess. Much of Alaska鈥檚 untapped petroleum reserves are in protected federal areas, a fight that has been ongoing for decades. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 coming is a stunning attack on our sovereignty and our ability to develop a strong economy that allows us, our children and our grandchildren to thrive,鈥 said Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), according to the Washington Post. 鈥淚t鈥檚 clear this administration does not care about us, and sees us as nothing but a territory. 鈥ut we will not be run over like this. We will fight back with every resource at our disposal.鈥