Pam Miller from the Northern Alaska Environmental Council sent us a report that the group has succeeded in delaying a proposed land swap that would transfer 110,000 acres, and subsurface drilling rights inside Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to Doyon, Ltd. The lands in question are believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves. Doyon had hope that the land swap would be complete in 2008, and under the Bush Administration. The delay postpones the swap for at least one year. Following the release of an environmental impact statement in January, the US Fish and Wildlife Service received 100,000 public comments, 80 percent of which opposed the land swap. NAEC will continue its effort to halt the land swap and subsequent oil development. The Conservation Alliance supported NAEC's efforts with a grant in April.
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