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Contact:
Allen Smith, Anchorage, AK (907) 272 9453
Jim Waltman, Washington, DC (202) 429 2674
Nicole Whittington-Evans, Anchorage, AK (907) 272 9453
Gisele McAuliffe (202) 429-2642

Alaska Tops List Of Most Endangered Wildlands
Three of "15 Most Endangered Wildlands" Report Located In Alaska

WASHINGTON May 25 - The State of Alaska contains the largest number of most endangered public lands, according to The Wilderness Society's just released annual list of the "15 Most Endangered Wildlands." The Wilderness Society (TWS) is the leading national organization focused on the protection of U.S. public lands.

The report describes the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Copper River Delta, and Denali National Park and Preserve as threatened by a mix of oil and gas development, road building, logging, off-road vehicles, development and mismanaged tourism. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge also is listed in the report's "Watch List" of other locations that TWS believes deserve special attention.

"You might think that lands in Alaska would be less imperiled," said Allen Smith, TWS Alaska regional director. "But the state's powerful representatives in Congress and major industries are full of schemes for exploiting our natural treasures."

The 12 other most endangered wildlands in the TWS report are (listed in alphabetical order by the state within which they are located):

  • AZ - Grand Canyon National Park
  • AZ - Sonoran Desert/Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge
  • CA - Sierra Nevada
  • CA and OR - Klamath Basin
  • CO - White River National Forest
  • ID and OR - Hells Canyon National Recreation Area
  • ME - Maine's North Woods
  • ND - Little Missouri National Grasslands
  • UT - Utah Wilderness
  • VA - High Knob, Jefferson National Forest
  • WA - Cascade Crest
  • WY, MT, and ID - Greater Yellowstone
Rising oil prices early this year increased the threat of oil drilling and development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In March, when newspaper headlines began to feature stories about consumer "sticker shock" at the cost of gasoline nationwide, the Alaskan congressional delegation, led by Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-AK), introduced a bill (S. 2241) that would allow companies to drill in the Arctic Refuge. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) has introduced a similar bill in the House. Young and Murkowski chair the committees in Congress that have jurisdiction over the Arctic Refuge.

The Arctic Refuge contains only 5 percent of Alaska's Arctic Coastal Plain; the other 95 percent already is available for oil and gas exploration. The Wilderness Society believes this remaining 5 percent-totaling 1.5 million acres-should be protected from development forever.

The Copper River Delta is threatened by the proposed construction of a road that would cut through the Delta and lead to land owned by Chugach Alaska Corporation. The Corporation wants the road constructed so it can develop the land for timber cutting, mining, and oil and gas leasing.

"A road through the Copper River Delta will rip apart the region's delicate web of life," said Nicole Whittington-Evans, TWS Alaska assistant regional director. "Bulldozing such a road would be a shortsighted act that could destroy a world-renowned fishery and other globally significant wildlife habitat."

Denali National Park is threatened by roads, railroads, snow machine trails, resorts, jetports, and power plants. "You name it, and some company has a plan to build it in Denali," Smith said. "This magnificent wilderness park would be changed forever if these schemes make it off the drawing board."

In Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, the Chugach Electric Association has proposed building a major power line across the north side, through proposed wilderness that contains significant grizzly bear and salmon habitat. Continuing oil and gas development in the refuge's Swanson River oil fields threatens the adjacent wilderness areas. Off-road vehicles (ORVs) and snow machines are damaging the Caribou Hills on the south side of the refuge.

As the foremost national organization specifically focused on the protection of U.S. public lands, TWS believes it is vital to provide Americans with a regular status report about the condition of our wildlands. The "15 Most Endangered Wildlands" report provides that annual update. It identifies serious problems that continue to threaten our national lands. This year, TWS identified the misuse of dirt bikes and other ORVs as one of the fastest growing threats.

Founded in 1935, The Wilderness Society works to preserve America's wilderness and to develop a network of wildlands through public education, scientific analysis and advocacy. Our goal is to ensure that future generations will enjoy the clean air and water, wildlife, natural beauty, opportunities for recreation and spiritual renewal that protected forests, rivers, deserts and mountains provide.

To receive Wilderness Society news releases and tip sheets online, send an e-mail message to newsroom@tws.org, please type "get news online" in the subject line and include your names and news affiliation. Also, you can subscribe online by visiting: http://www.wilderness.org/newsroom/getnews.htm.
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