November 15, 2010
Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve – GMP Amendment
Fairbanks Administrative Center
4175 Geist Road
Fairbanks, AK 99709
To Whom It May Concern:
The Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc. (RDC) appreciates the opportunity to provide comments to the National Park Service (NPS) on the development of the General Management Plan for Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Specifically, RDC writes to oppose additional Wilderness designations in the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.
RDC is a statewide business association comprised of individuals and companies from Alaska’s oil and gas, mining, forest products, tourism and fisheries industries. RDC’s membership includes Alaska Native Corporations, local communities, organized labor, and industry support firms. RDC’s purpose is to encourage a strong, diversified private sector in Alaska and expand the state’s economic base through the responsible development of our natural resources.
RDC strongly opposes any new federal Wilderness designations in Gates of the Arctic, as such consideration is inconsistent with promises that were made in the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
In 1980, with the passage of ANILCA, approximately seven million acres, or 83 percent of Gates of the Arctic, were designated as Wilderness. The NPS consideration for an additional one million acres is unacceptable. With 58 million acres of Wilderness, Alaska accounts for 53 percent of America’s federal Wilderness areas. Alaska doesn’t need more federal Wilderness. What Alaska does need is economic opportunity and access to develop our natural resources, as implied in the promises of ANILCA.
The one million acres the NPS is considering includes an area valuable to Alaska’s economy and landowners, including Native entities. Designation of this area as Wilderness could forever block access to one of the world’s largest and richest volcanogenic massive sulfide districts.
RDC asks the NPS to remove the one million acres up for consideration for Wilderness in the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve.
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.
