The following is a joint press release issued by AUDUBON ALASKA, ALASKA WILDERNESS LEAGUE * DEFNDERS OF WILDLIFE * NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY * NATIVE MOVEMENT * NORTHERN ALASKA ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER * SOVEREIGN I Ñ UPIAT FOR A LIVING ARCTIC *  THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY * TRUSTEES FOR ALASKA.

On the heels of a wildfire season exacerbated by climate change that engulfed much of the Western United States in flames, and as the Arctic continues to experience warming at nearly three times the rest of the planet, there remains little doubt of the need to limit fossil fuel expansion. We condemn the Bureau of Land Managementʼs continued catering to corporate interests over the health and safety of communities already bearing the burden of the industryʼs impacts. This decision threatens the future of Arctic peoplesʼ food sovereignty and access to clean water, as well as the ecological integrity of sensitive lands and waters, which provide habitat for caribou, polar bears, migratory birds, and other wildlife. The fact that BLM deferred approving the entire project now only highlights the lack of information about the project proposal and the piecemeal approach the agency has taken to downplay its significant impacts.

The agencyʼs haphazard analysis of the project, lack of meaningful alternatives, and systematic silencing of marginalized voices should raise red flags for anyone invested in public process and responsible and just management decisions. We will continue to hold the administration accountable for the harm done in its rush to sell off northern Alaska to outside interests.

Media Contacts:

Siqiñiq Maupin, Native Movement, siqiniq@nativemovement.org 
Rebecca Sentner, Audubon Alaska, rebecca.sentner@audubon.org
Erica Watson, Northern Alaska Environmental Center, erica@northern.org
Tim Woody, The Wilderness Society, tim_woody@tws.org
Corey Himrod, Alaska Wilderness League, corey@alaskawild.org
Dawnell Smith, Trustees for Alaska, dsmith@trustees.org
Gwen Dobbs, Defenders of Wildlife, gdobbs@defenders.org