Action Alert: Yukon Flats NWR Land Exchange

Doyon Limited currently owns 1.25 million acres within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Negotiators for Doyon and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have agreed to provide Doyon title to some refuge lands that may hold oil and gas resources. In exchange, the USFWS will receive habitat currently owned by Doyon within the refuge. Detailed information can be found at http://alaska.fws.gov/media/doyon/

The USFWS will hold public meetings in February to obtain feedback on the proposed land exchange. The meetings will be held in a number of Interior villages, as well as in Fairbanks and Anchorage.

The land exchange will provide the refuge with a net gain of 98,000 acres of quality fish and wildlife habitat; acreage that will be available for recreation and subsistence use. Doyon will pay into an “Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition Account a production payment of 1.25% of resource value at the wellhead for all oil and gas extracted from lands and interests acquired through this agreement. The FWS will use these funds to purchase an additional 120,000 acres of quality fish and wildlife habitat within the borders of the Yukon Flats refuge that will also be available for recreation and subsistence use. Funds could be used to purchase other private lands within other Alaska refuges.

Action Requested:

1. Testify in support of the land exchange at one of the following public meetings:

Anchorage
Tuesday, February 22nd, 6:30-9 p.m.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office, 1011 E. Tudor Road,
Gordon Watson Conference Room

Fairbanks
Wednesday, February 23rd, 6:30-9 p.m.
Noel Wien Library

2. Submit written comments (by letter, fax or via the internet) in support of the Yukon Flats land exchange before July 30, 2005 to:

Mail: Ted Heuer, Refuge Manager, Yukon Flats NWR, 101 12th Avenue,Room 264 Box 14, Fairbanks, AK 99701
Fax: 907-456-0447

Email: Ted_Heuer@fws.gov

Points to consider in your testimony and letter:

• The proposed land exchange is in the public’s best interest as it would allow the FWS to achieve its conservation goals and consolidate land ownership. Should commercial quantities of oil and gas be discovered, local communities, the State of Alaska and the nation would benefit.
• The Yukon Flats could hold huge quantities of natural gas and significant volumes of oil. The U.S. Geological Survey offers a mean estimate of 5.5 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas and as much as 592 million barrels of oil. The area is potentially another energy province on the scale of Cook Inlet.
• The land exchange would allow Doyon to consolidate its holdings within the refuge so it can improve the economics of drilling for oil and gas. The entire flats show favorable signs of oil and gas, but the highest petroleum potential lies under land proposed for exchange.
• The exchange would trigger exploration, leading to new business opportunities for Alaska companies.
• If oil and gas is discovered in the refuge, many public benefits would be generated, including additional revenues to the State and new energy supplies for the American market.
• The land exchange and subsequent discovery of energy resources would allow for the creation of a long-term economic base in this economically-disadvantaged part of rural Alaska. It would help fulfill ANCSA’s promise to enhance social and economic well-being of Native people, creating jobs and other opportunities for local Doyon shareholders.
• No material harm to traditional subsistence activities would occur from the exchange and subsequent exploration and development. Local access to traditional activities would be preserved.
• The land exchange does not include the biological heart of the refuge.
• The exchange area takes up less than 3% of the 9 million-acre refuge. Total surface impacts from development are estimated to be less than 1,000 acres.
• Doyon will pay into an “Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Land Acquisition Account a production payment of 1.25% of the resource value at the wellhead for all oil and gas extracted from lands and interests acquired through this agreement. The FWS will use these funds to purchase additional acres of quality fish and wildlife habitat within the borders of the Yukon Flats refuge and elsewhere in Alaska. Monies will also be used to construct needed infrastructure in Alaska refuges, including a range of projects to enhance public use of refuge lands.

Deadline for Comments Extended until July 30, 2005