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The Administration strongly opposes H.R. 2259 and, if presented to the
President, the Secretary of the Interior would recommend that the bill be
vetoed.
H.R. 2259 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. H.R. 2259 is not compatible with the purposes for which the
Refuge was established and would waive important environmental laws. As a
result, H.R. 2259 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 safe and economical
transportation between the remote communities of King Cove and Cold Bay in
Alaska. The Department of the Interior will continue working with the
State of Alaska and other interested parties to explore different
transportation alternatives.
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