The Summer of 69…And Counting…as Assault on Alaska Resources Continues

August 28, 2024

The Department of Interior and its Bureau of Land Management can’t say they haven’t been busy these past three-plus years.

For the 46^th time since January 20, 2021, they tag-teamed to lock up yet another section of Alaska from being available for responsible resource development.  If that sounds extreme, realize it is only a portion of the current administration’s 69 overall executive or administrative orders designed to lock up the Last Frontier.

Yesterday’s announcement finalized previously announced plans to designate lands and waters under federal management from being available to mine, log or drill on.  It takes a total of 28 million acres – an area larger than the state of Tennessee – and designates them as wilderness and subsistence areas.

Alaska leaders were quick to slam the announcement, with Governor Mike Dunleavy noting on X, “They are attempting to turn Alaska into one big national park…Every one of these sanctions harms Alaska’s ability to prosper.” 

Senator Dan Sullivan was clearly incensed, noting, “Yesterday, the Biden-Harris admin indefinitely restricted from selection more than 98 percent of the lands that Alaskans have been promised they would receive for decades—locking up more than 28 million acres. This is a complete betrayal of Alaska Native Vietnam-era veterans, and of the promises that Alaska received when it became a state in 1959.”

With no end in sight from the actions designed to lock up the state, and Kamala Harris running to continue – and even ramp up – the move away from traditional energy sources, Alaskans need to choose their next leaders wisely in November.