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The Administration strongly opposes S. 1092, as amended, and, if presented
to the President, his senior advisers would recommend that he veto the
bill.
S. 1092 would create an objectionable and unprecedented perpetual
right-of-way through portions of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and
Izembek Wilderness for building a public road and maintaining
utility-related fixtures between the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay
in Alaska. Specifically, S. 1092 would set a precedent by removing lands
from wilderness in a land exchange to build a new road. S. 1092 is not
compatible with the purposes for which the Refuge was established and would
waive important environmental laws. As a result, S. 1092 would disrupt the
habitat of many important species, including internationally-unique
waterfowl populations and cause irreparable damage to the ecological
integrity of this pristine wilderness area. Finally, the bill would
undermine the intent of the recently enacted bipartisan "National Wildlife
Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997."
The Administration recognizes the need to ensure adequate emergency medical
care for the remote community of King Cove. The Administration will
continue working with the State of Alaska and other interested parties to
explore different transportation alternatives.
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