Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) strongly opposes this week’s decision by the U.S. Department of the Interior to revoke Public Land Orders 5150 and 5180, opening approximately 2.1 million acres of land north of the Yukon River in the Dalton Utility Corridor to state selection, mining, and industrial development.
For decades, these federal withdrawals protected lands relied upon by Tribal members for hunting, trapping, fishing, and the protection of cultural sites. As these lands move out of federal management, large portions will no longer be eligible for the federal rural subsistence priority under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
“This decision opens the door to development that puts our lands, animals, waters, and subsistence resources at real risk,” said Chief/Chairman Brian Ridley. “For our communities, these are not remote acres on a map. These are the places where our families hunt, fish, and gather to feed our people. Protecting these resources is critical to our food security, our culture, and our future.”
The Bureau of Land Management has acknowledged the action has the potential to adversely affect historic and cultural properties. TCC is concerned the decision moves forward despite unresolved Tribal concerns regarding subsistence access, cultural sites, and traditional land use.
“Our people have stewarded these lands since time immemorial,” Ridley said. “The federal government has a trust responsibility to Tribes. When decisions of this magnitude are made without fully addressing Tribal concerns, the risks are carried by our communities and by the next generation.”
The revocation clears the way for over two million acres to transfer toward State ownership and opens the area to entry under public land and mining laws. TCC believes this action could significantly impact wildlife habitat, migration patterns, water quality, and long-standing subsistence harvest areas across Interior Alaska.
Tanana Chiefs Conference supports responsible development, but it must occur in a way that protects subsistence resources and respects Tribal sovereignty and cultural survival. TCC will continue working with Tribes, agencies, and partners to closely monitor implementation of this decision and to advocate for protection of traditional use areas and cultural resources moving forward.
You can see the official release from the U.S. Department of the Interior Here.