Interior will take ‘second look’ at allowing road through Alaskan refuge

The Interior Department will take a “second look” at its preliminary decision to prevent construction of a road through an Alaskan wildlife refuge that supporters call vital to providing emergency medical access to a small village.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) announced the agreement Thursday, providing at least a temporary easing of a battle that has threatened to gum up the nomination of Sally Jewell, the nominee for Interior secretary.

The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee is slated to approve Jewell, the head of outdoor gear giant REI Inc., later Thursday morning. She will still require confirmation by the full Senate.

“There is no greater good we could do than to provide the residents of King Cove a safe land route to the airport in Cold Bay so they can be evacuated in cases of medical emergencies,” Murkowski, the top Republican on the energy panel, said in a statement.

Murkowski said she had talks Wednesday night with current Interior Secretary Ken Salazar about whether to allow the road through the Izembek National Wildife Refuge.

“I’m pleased that Secretary Salazar has agreed to take a second look at this. I look forward to working with Interior to ensure the department fulfills its native trust responsibilities to the people of King Cove,” she said.

The proposed road would provide residents of the Aleutian village of King Cove with access to an all-weather airport in Cold Bay.

From Murkowski’s office:

“Under the agreement, the Interior Department will look at whether the environmental impact statement (EIS) by the Fish and Wildlife Service adequately considered the importance of protecting the human health and safety of the residents of King Cove.”

Murkowski and other GOP senators have not ruled out placing a procedural “hold” on Murkowski’s nomination later in the process due to various concerns.

Click here for earlier E2-Wire coverage of the controversy over the refuge.