The Trump administration is reportedly on the verge of approving a highly contentious agreement. This deal would permit the construction of a road directly through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, a sprawling and ecologically significant wilderness in southwestern Alaska. This information comes from internal documents within the Interior Department, which have been reviewed by The New York Times.
Though not yet finalized, this agreement marks the newest development in a decades-long struggle over the road’s fate, a battle that has echoed from remote Alaskan communities to the halls of Washington D.C. A similar proposal was greenlit during the first Trump administration in 2019, only to be later revoked by the Biden administration in 2023. At that time, Biden officials cited a failure by their predecessors to adequately assess the profound impacts of such construction on both the diverse wildlife and the Alaska Native communities.
The proposed land swap, outlined in the documents, involves the Interior Department transferring 490 acres of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge to the King Cove Corporation. This tribal organization is keen on building the road. In return, the King Cove Corporation would cede thousands of its own acres to the government, with a portion of this land intended to expand the refuge.
Supporters argue that the road is a critical necessity, providing a vital link between the isolated town of King Cove and an airport equipped for urgent medical evacuations. Conversely, environmental groups and numerous Alaska Native tribes vehemently oppose the plan, asserting that the road’s construction would inflict irreversible damage upon the region’s unique wildlife and disrupt traditional hunting and fishing practices essential to their way of life.
E & E News was the first to report on this agreement. Elizabeth Peace, a spokesperson for the Interior Department, acknowledged that the agency is indeed considering such a deal but refrained from disclosing further specifics.
In an emailed statement, Ms. Peace affirmed, “The department is moving forward with required reviews to evaluate a potential land exchange that would enable a road between King Cove and Cold Bay. We are committed to completing this process in full compliance with federal law and with robust public and tribal engagement.”
The proposed route for the road would span approximately 40 miles, connecting King Cove to the neighboring community of Cold Bay. Crucially, about 10 of these miles would traverse the heart of Izembek, a refuge renowned for its expansive wetlands. These wetlands host some of the planet’s most significant eelgrass beds, drawing in an abundance of migratory bird species.
During the crucial spring and fall seasons, nearly the entire global population of emperor geese and Pacific black brant geese journey to this refuge, relying on its rich eelgrass beds for sustenance. In winter, the refuge also becomes a critical molting ground for tens of thousands of Steller’s eider sea ducks.
Nicole Whittington-Evans, senior director of Alaska and Northwest programs at Defenders of Wildlife, a prominent conservation organization, emphasized, “This place is a biodiversity stronghold that is very, very deserving of protection.”
Connecting King Cove to Cold Bay’s airport is seen as essential for accessing emergency medical flights to Anchorage hospitals. Tragically, at least 18 King Cove residents have lost their lives due to delays in receiving timely medical care.
Senator Dan Sullivan, an Alaskan Republican, has publicly contended that opponents of the road project seem to value bird conservation above the urgent human need for potentially life-saving medical transport. Requests for comment from Senator Sullivan’s representatives were not immediately answered.
For three decades, federal officials have grappled with the complex issue of whether to permit this road. The Clinton administration, for instance, facilitated a deal involving over $50 million for a hovercraft. This vessel was intended to bridge the gap between King Cove and Cold Bay in just 20 minutes, and indeed, it performed about two dozen evacuations over several years. However, it was ultimately deemed too expensive and unreliable in harsh weather conditions, leading to its abandonment in 2010.
The Izembek refuge has been under federal protection since President Jimmy Carter enacted the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (Anilca) in 1980. This monumental legislation preserved over 100 million acres of federal land across Alaska, encompassing national parks, designated wilderness areas, and other critical sites.
In one of his final public statements, the late President Jimmy Carter, who passed away last year at the age of 100, issued a stark warning: approving this road would establish a perilous precedent. In an unusual legal filing for a former president, Carter argued that such a move would empower subsequent administrations to partition millions of acres of protected lands almost indiscriminately.
Michelle Sinnott, a staff attorney at Trustees for Alaska, a group that represented conservation organizations in a lawsuit against the initial Trump administration’s Izembek deal, stated, “Anilca was a great compromise, to a certain extent, because it recognized the need for development in Alaska while also recognizing that there were places too special to develop.”
Should the Interior Department move forward and finalize this new agreement, Ms. Sinnott confirmed that Trustees for Alaska and their partners would “not stop fighting” to ensure the refuge’s enduring protection.