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Washington, D.C. – Months after announcing its unilateral actions to close off more than 12 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve (ANWR), the Obama Administration today formalized its plans to begin managing the area as wilderness by releasing a revised Comprehensive Conservation Plan (CCP) and a formal request to Congress to approve the wilderness designation. Following the announcement, Alaskan Congressman Don Young shared his thoughts:

“There’s a growing theme with this Administration; bad news can only be delivered on holidays or weekends. They think they can hide from their shameful decisions while the minds of Alaskans are elsewhere, but they cannot.

“Today’s formal announcement shows us that the concerns of the Alaskan people mean absolutely nothing to this Administration. Only Congress has the ability to act on this matter, which is clearly defined in law by ANILCA. This Administration and its environmental allies would go through the roof if future Administrations began managing 12 million acres of ANWR for resource development without an Act of Congress, and this move by President Obama and Sally Jewell should be viewed no differently.

“This President’s callous decision to manage ANWR, not for the people of the Arctic but for his party’s environmental elite, sends a clear and resounding message – he is not Alaska’s friend. I don't take these actions lightly and I will continue fighting against decisions that jeopardize Alaska’s future and social and economic well being. I look forward to passing ANWR legislation in the House for the 13^th time and sending this Administration a message of my own – responsible resource development remains a top priority for Congress."

The Department of Interior's Recommendations for ANWR Wilderness (click here for full image)

                                         

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