Posts by Anja Semanco
Drilling in the Arctic Refuge: A Financial Disaster and a Threat to Our Future
In 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed by the Trump administration included a highly controversial provision: it mandated two oil and gas lease sales in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The first sale, held on January 6, 2021, during the final days of the Trump presidency, was a bust. Now, the second lease…
Read MorePresident Biden Finalizes Record of Decision for the Arctic Refuge
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 12/9/2024 Contact: Anja Semanco | anja@alaskawild.org | 724-967-2777 President Biden Finalizes Record of Decision for the Arctic Refuge Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration released the legally mandated leasing Record of Decision (ROD) and Notice of Lease Sale for the Coastal Plain region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This marks…
Read MoreAlaska Wilderness League Applauds Leadership of Representative Raúl Grijalva
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 12/2/2024 Contact: Anja Semanco | anja@alaskawild.org | 724-967-2777 Alaska Wilderness League Applauds Leadership of Representative Raúl Grijalva Washington, D.C. – Alaska Wilderness League expresses its deep gratitude to Representative Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) for his exceptional leadership as Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. His decision this week to pass the torch…
Read MoreProposed Land Exchange in Izembek Refuge Sparks Conservation Concerns
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 11/13/2024 Contact: Anja Semanco | anja@alaskawild.org | 724-967-2777 Proposed Land Exchange in Izembek Refuge Sparks Conservation Concerns Decision may set precedent affecting millions of protected acres across Alaska Washington, D.C. – Today, the Department of the Interior released a draft supplemental environmental impact statement reviewing a land exchange within Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife…
Read MoreBiden Administration Releases Final Supplemental Environmental Statement for Arctic Refuge.
Washington, D.C. – Today, the Biden administration announced the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (FSEIS) for the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The FSEIS was needed in order to re-assess the environmental impacts of the Arctic Refuge oil and gas leasing program because the first analysis by the Trump administration was fundamentally…
Read MoreWe Will Never Stop Defending Wild Alaska
“On behalf of Alaska Wilderness League, I am deeply disappointed by this week’s election results. However, we are not disheartened.,” said Kristen Miller, executive director. “Our commitment to protecting Alaska’s lands and waters remains unchanged despite the storm brewing on the horizon. For decades, we have fought against all odds to protect wild Alaska. As we…
Read MoreSecretary Haaland Secures 28 Million Acres of Land Protections for Alaska
Today, the Biden administration and Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced an order to solidify protections for 28 million acres of Alaska.
Read MoreWhat the Chevron Ruling Means for the League
Since 1984 – under what was known as the “Chevron doctrine” – courts in the United States deferred to agency interpretations of ambiguous laws passed by Congress. This gave federal agencies the leniency and power to interpret unclear laws, under the idea that agencies – with expertise in applicable science, public consultation, and a depth…
Read MoreBiden Administration Secures Multiple Protections For Alaska
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 28, 2024 Contact: Anja Semanco | anja@alaskawild.org | 724-967-2777 Biden Administration Secures Multiple Protections For Alaska Washington D.C. – Today, the Biden administration announced a set of measures aimed at protecting millions of acres of Alaska, marking the next step toward securing prosperity for local Alaskan communities by preserving intact public lands and…
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