Arctic Refuge

October 25 2023

Where We Stand on the Arctic Refuge and What You Can Do

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge Arctic Refuge, Porcupine caribou

Written by Laurence Fox, Campaigns Coordinator | October 25, 2023
A shortened version of this post appeared in the Wednesday, October 18th, 2023 edition of the Yukon News.

The cancellation of the remaining leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge this past September was, and is, wonderful news for the Porcupine Caribou, the Gwich’in which have worked tirelessly to protect them, and everyone who loves, cares for, and wants to preserve wild places.

What comes next, though, for the Arctic Refuge?

Honestly? That’s hard to say. It’s a complicated process, legally and politically speaking. Where we’re at with the Arctic Refuge is largely contained within an 800-plus page report written in a mix of industrial mining jargon, data sets, and legally-nebulous bureaucratese that the average person needs a pot of black coffee and a thermal lance to break into, which certainly doesn’t make understanding things any easier. Having spent the last three weeks up to my eyeballs in this report I can tell you, however, that the nuts and bolts of the situation is this:

If you care about the Porcupine Caribou, wildlife conservation, climate change, First Nation rights and sovereignty, Canadian-American relations, the fundamental principles of democracy, or any combination thereof you should be paying attention to this.

Photo by Peter Mather.

Here’s why:

Way back in 2017, the Trump Administration passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which, as the name implies, was mostly about cutting taxes and creating jobs in the name of incentivizing economic growth. As you would quite reasonably expect, cutting taxes means less money for government spending, and the Tax Act was expected to cost around US$1.9 trillion, or about the same as the total GDP of Canada for the same year.

To help offset the upfront costs of this, the Trump Administration slapped a rider on the tail end of the Tax Act (page 182 of 185, specifically) authorizing the sale of oil and gas leases in the “1002 Area” of the Coastal Plains within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge–around 1.5 million acres of sea-swept, mountain-rimmed Northern wilderness which also happens to contain the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, sacred to the Gwich’in.

(Not to spoil the ending for you, but the first round of lease sales generated a paltry US$16.5 million, or about one percent of what had been expected.)

To make these lease sales happen, however, the legislation which governs the Arctic Refuge, had to be altered. Prior to 2017, the Arctic Refuge had four express purposes: to conserve animals and plants in their natural diversity, to ensure a place for subsistence hunting and gathering activities, to protect water quality and quantity, and to fulfill international wildlife treaty obligations. When it passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the Trump Administration added a fifth; to “provide for an oil and gas leasing program within the Coastal Plain.”

The Act also directs the Secretary of the Interior to “establish and administer a competitive oil and gas program for the leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plains,” making it a legal obligation to ensure lease sales happen.

What that means is that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act makes oil and gas leasing an express, legal purpose of the refuge, regardless of who the President or the Secretary of Interior is. To this end, it specifies not only how much of the area must be put up for oil and gas leasing– a minimum of 400,000 hectares, or an area about twice the size of two Tombstone Territorial Parks–but also requires no less than two leasing sales be held, the second of which must be held no later than December 2024.

In other words, the U.S. government unilaterally decided to not only start an oil and gas leasing program in the middle of a wildlife refuge, a move in direct conflict with the original intentions of the Arctic Refuge, smack dab in the middle of the Porcupine Caribou Herd’s calving grounds, but made it illegal not to do so.

Under American law, when something like oil and gas leasing in the Arctic Refuge is proposed, it triggers the need for an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). An EIS assesses the potential impacts of a project on both people and the environment and then makes recommendations about whether or not that project should proceed, and with what mitigations in place. Moreover, the government agency proposing the project is in charge of compiling the EIS and deciding if what it wants to do is okay after the EIS is complete. Although all projects have to work within Federal, state, and local environmental laws, it’s up to the agency–in this case, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)– to determine their application within its EIS.

An EIS is supposed to look at all the potential environmental and human costs and benefits of a project, design ‘alternatives’–imaginary scenarios used to create baseline expectations about how a project might impact an area under differing development situations–consult scientists, experts and the community about those situations, and then make a decision based on those alternatives and the feedback around them. In this case, however, the administration wasn’t looking at whether or not the leases should be issued, but under what conditions they would be issued.

The Trump Administration had made it a foregone conclusion that those leases had to be offered up for sale, whether anyone wanted them to be sold (or wanted to buy them) or not.

If this sounds a bit like telling students to turn in their homework, grade their own assignments, and then decide if they’ve passed or failed the course, that’s only because it is– and that’s exactly what happened with the initial EIS issued in 2019 under the Trump Administration.

The 2019 EIS ultimately recommended all 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plains be put up for leasing, with the fewest restrictions and the most aggressive development options possible. Most of the recently canceled leases–there were seven of them, all held by the State of Alaska, a handful and a half of the 11 sold in early 2021–were all issued under the original EIS. That EIS was, as you would expect, found to be so legally, methodically, and scientifically flawed that the Biden Administration ordered the whole thing binned like Tuesday’s tuna sandwich on a Friday afternoon.

One of the first things incoming-President Joe Biden did in 2021 was throw a hold on all development in the Arctic Refuge and order a Supplementary Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) be undertaken. This SEIS restarted the consultation process–if not from square one then from square two or three–which technically makes it a mulligan more than a “supplement.”

This brings us to where we are now, being asked to comment a second time on an environmental assessment which is inherently flawed because it legally has to conclude that leasing in the Arctic Refuge will take place.

Okay… so now what?

The bad news is that there’s no way to stop the lease sale–no matter what happens, they are going to put a minimum of 400,000 hectares up for potential development. The law says they have to. The only way to stop it would be to change the law, and the political will doesn’t exist for that in Washington.

The good news is while it’s not perfect, this EIS is still better than the original, and offers better alternatives with more restrictions on development. Of the three alternative development scenarios being practically considered by BLM, one (almost) fully protects the Porcupine Caribou Herd’s calving grounds from development.

Moreover lease sales are not the same thing as development in the Arctic Refuge. They don’t just get a piece of paper that says “sure, go ahead and drill here” and start building oil wells the next day–they may buy a lease and never develop it. Likewise, when the first leases were made available, it was with the fewest possible restrictions on development, and even then the industry found them about as appetizing as a wet bologna sandwich and made very few bids. Just because leases are made available doesn’t mean anyone is actually going to buy them. The ultimate hope is that decision makers will choose the most restrictive scenario that best protects the Porcupine Caribou Herd and all the other treasures of refuge, a scenario that is at odds with making developing the Arctic Refuge a good business choice.

This is all… frustrating at best, but the fight isn’t over. There’s still time for action. For one thing, you can actually go and comment on the SEIS. Tell the U.S. government you won’t accept any development in the Arctic Refuge. You can pop over to the CPAWS Yukon website and sign our campaign letter, or you can write your own.

Photo by Ken Madsen.

You can also support the Arctic Refuge and the Porcupine Caribou by talking about the Arctic Refuge; share a post, tell your friends, tweet about it.

A bunch of rich people want to roll into what’s ostensibly a wildlife refuge and start putting holes in the ground where the Porcupine Caribou raise their babies so they can slurp up oil and gas and walk away a little bit richer than they were before.

Does that seem right to you? Does that seem like something that’s good? Do you think it’s possible to have a wildlife refuge remain a refuge if you turn it into an oilfield?

I don’t think that’s even remotely possible, I don’t think that’s right and I don’t think that’s good.

If you don’t either, then say something. The Arctic Refuge needs you too.

October 23 2020

Canadian environmental groups call on banks to not fund drilling in the Arctic Refuge

CPAWS Yukon BlogArcticRefuge, News Arctic Refuge, CIBC, divest, finance, Scotiabank, TD

September 24 2019

The U.S. Government wants to drill into the Arctic Refuge. We drilled into its environmental review.

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge Arctic Refuge, FEIS

The U.S. Government wants to drill into the Arctic Refuge. We drilled into its environmental review.

Written by Malkolm Boothroyd, Campaigns Coordinator

The U.S. Government is determined to auction the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge away to the oil industry — but must comply with its own environmental protection laws. For the past eighteen months the U.S. Bureau of Land Management has been racing to complete an environmental review, cutting corners, stifling science and limiting public involvement the whole way through. Late last week the Bureau released its Final Environmental Statement (Final EIS) on the impacts of drilling in the Arctic Refuge. There’s one huge question that remains. Is this legal?

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The Final EIS concludes that Gwich’in communities would not experience significant adverse impacts to subsistence rights — a hugely troubling denial. The Bureau failed to comprehensively address the impacts of drilling in the Arctic Refuge on Gwich’in communities that depend on the Porcupine caribou herd, especially on communities within Canada. In a handful of sentences the Final EIS vaguely acknowledges some of the impacts that communities such as Old Crow could experience, but goes no further. The Bureau’s failure to properly address subsistence impacts to Gwich’in communities within Canada is unacceptable, especially considering the wealth of traditional knowledge and number of concerns raised by Gwich’in that were available for the agency’s consideration.

The Final EIS claims that “the likelihood of large-scale changes in caribou abundance, migration, or distribution are low.” The Bureau largely discounts the findings of a comprehensive study on the Porcupine caribou herd’s vulnerability to oil drilling that Canadian researchers completed this January. The study looked at the impacts of various drilling scenarios on the herd’s population. They found that under the Bureau’s preferred drilling scenario, the Porcupine caribou herd could decline by 17% or 18% over ten years, depending on the starting population size.

The Bureau chooses to dispute these findings. Instead the Final EIS concludes “while the [Porcupine] caribou population size would continue to fluctuate, but based on the hypothetical development scenario, potential impacts to herd size as a result of displacement of maternal caribou are still anticipated to be negligible. Potential impacts to herd size as a result of behavior, feeding, and body condition changes are not anticipated to impact population size.” This is an exceptional claim — that building a spiderweb of oil infrastructure in the heart of the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds would have no impact on the herd’s population. The Bureau arrives at this conclusion without conducting any quantitative analysis of its own.

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The Bureau of Land Management deserves some credit. After all they corrected their omission of the ‘L’ in gyrfalcon and peregrine falcon that appeared in their Draft EIS. Unfortunately, the Bureau failed to address the substantive problems with its environmental review.

The Final EIS affirms what has been clear all along, that the Bureau is brushing aside environmental laws in its reckless push to auction the Arctic Refuge to oil companies. But the U.S. Government doesn’t get to ignore its environmental laws. CPAWS Yukon and many other groups are now actively investigating ways to take the Bureau of Land Management to court over this Final Environmental Impact Statement.

July 31 2019

What We Heard: Canadian Perspectives on Drilling in the Arctic Refuge

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge Arctic Refuge, Canadian, drilling, Porcupine caribou herd

Header Image: Keywords pulled from hearing statements and letters of those opposed to drilling in the Arctic Refuge during the EIS process. Word size is based on the frequency that word was used. Designed by Braden Lamoureux, Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd

Written by: Braden Lamoureux, Conservation and Events Intern

Over 50% of the Porcupine caribou’s migratory habitat lies within Canadian borders. Yet their critical breeding grounds on the coastal plains lie within U.S. borders and are at risk of being drilled for oil and gas. And it’s not just the caribou. Hundreds of migrating bird species, polar bears looking for their winter dens, and Arctic foxes roam freely through their natural habitat ranges with no regard for human-made borders. Conserving these transboundary species involves cooperation and consultation between countries. So far, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has been neglecting engagement with Canadians.

“Caribou don’t cross the border with passports, they just walk by the thousands.”
– Paul Davis, Whitehorse

Yukon and Vuntut Gwitchin citizens were both denied the opportunity to voice their concerns for the Arctic Refuge when they requested that the BLM hold hearings in Canada. Public hearings were held in eight U.S. locations during the commenting period of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS), but none in Canada. The disturbing effects of drilling in the Arctic Refuge would primarily affect Yukoners, yet the Draft EIS fails to recognize and address many of the impacts this project will have on Canadians.

The majority of the habitat range of the Porcupine caribou herd exists in Canada. Source: Porcupine Caribou Management Board

“The failure of your program [BLM] to consult in the Yukon is a shocking weakness. The Porcupine Caribou herd is Canada’s as much as it is Alaska’s. We have a stake and we should be better involved. “
– David Loeks, Whitehorse

Many powerful and personal stories from the Canadian side of the border were put on the public record during the scoping and EIS commenting periods of the project’s environmental assessment. Since the BLM isn’t doing such a good job of listening, I have compiled some of the key concerns with drilling in the Arctic Refuge. We could call it a mini ‘What We Heard Report’ from the Canadian perspective. It is important to hear these voices from those most affected by this issue to understand the critical subsistence value that comes from such a place like Izhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit — “the sacred place where life begins”. The Gwich’in name for the coastal plains.

The top 10 keywords that appeared most frequently in scoping and commenting responses opposed to drilling in the Arctic Refuge are: Life, Generations, Impact, Culture, Traditions, Environment, Food, Thousands, Subsistence, and Agreements.

A recurring theme that appeared over and over again was the tremendous value that is placed in the Porcupine caribou herd. Hunting caribou was described not only as a way of life, but the source of life itself. In northern Canada, equitable food access is a huge issue due to the challenge of growing or importing food to fly-in communities. One such example is the community of Old Crow, Yukon, where the weekly cost of groceries for a family of four is over $500. For the Gwich’in, the Porcupine caribou are their food security. If oil and gas drilling causes a decline in the caribou population, then the quality of affordable food, housing, and health benefits also dwindles with them.

Letters from Canadian environmental organizations and biologists highlighted the ecological importance of the coastal plains to migratory shore birds, marine fish, sensitive Arctic flora, and of course, breeding caribou. Canadian scientists that have been monitoring the Arctic Refuge for decades recognize its crucial role as an area of resilience…and quite literally a refuge for wildlife.

Photo by Peter Mather

But even more powerful of a testimony, is the cultural importance that the caribou holds in Gwich’in and Northern Canadian identity. For thousands of years, the Gwich’in have harvested caribou responsibly from the land. This relationship is a history of intimacy and kinship, as Maureen Charlie from Old Crow said; ‘The herd’s hardship is a trait us Gwitchin value, the herd’s survival is as important to us as our own’. When the caribou suffer, so do the Gwich’in citizens that are still healing as a culture from colonization. Some suggested that drilling in the Arctic Refuge is a direct continuation of this cultural genocide.

Some of the comments reminded us of the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which was endorsed by the U.S. in 2010. This declaration sets an international standard that aboriginal people have the right to the conservation of their traditional medicinal plants, animals and minerals (Article 24), as well as the maintenance of their spiritual relationship to their traditional territories and resources for future generations (Article 25). Others are concerned for the loss of language, education, and traditional knowledge that is passed down through generations of oral history. The children and grandchildren of Gwich’in elders, who have been eating caribou since childhood, now face an uncertain future on the land if the caribou disappear. Just as we try to see every environmental and economic issue through the lens of climate change, the Gwich’in must also approach issues from this additional angle. The caribou are linked to many of the same topics – health, housing, economic growth, education, food security, jobs, culture, and more.

All of these things will surely depreciate with the health of the Porcupine caribou herd if drilling occurs in the Arctic Refuge.

June 11 2019

A History of Collaboration and its Role in Protecting the Arctic Refuge

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge Arctic Refuge, canada, collaboration, Porcupine caribou herd, U.S.

Header Image: Porcupine caribou, Peter Mather
Written by: Braden Lamoureux, Conservation and Events Intern

For over 30 years, efforts by the Gwich’in Steering Committee, conservation groups, and the public have been preventing the Arctic Refuge from drilling. This past March, hundreds of Aboriginal Peoples, Yukoners, and First Nation, Territorial and Federal Government came together and wrote comments to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the calving grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd. Oil and gas extraction in the Arctic Refuge could have devastating impacts on the species and ecosystems within it. We are awaiting the release of the ‘Final Environmental Impact Statement’ (Final EIS) which the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to deliver in August or September. It’s nearly impossible to address all of the issues raised in the scoping and commenting periods in such a short time. A hard look at the evidence should take many years of research and the BLM has time and time again cut corners.

Canada and the U.S. have worked in partnership to conserve key wilderness areas for over 70 years. Through legislation and agreements (old and new), the two countries have emphasized their partnership in the decision making process for conserved lands. We have hope that this partnership will play a large role in keeping oil and gas drilling out of the Arctic Refuge. Comments submitted by experts and lawyers highlighted how the Draft EIS fails to comply with current laws. If the Final EIS still falls short, it is inevitable that this issue will end up in court.

The Arctic Refuge is home to a large diversity of birds such as this Pacific Loon. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd

Here’s a summary of the legislation and agreements that we found particularly important:

The National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 (NEPA)

NEPA is the cornerstone of environmental protection in the United States. NEPA states that any major federal project must include an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Since the project will have potentially significant impacts, this statement must make informed decisions from research and public involvement.

The Draft EIS to lease the Arctic Refuge falls short of multiple NEPA requirements such as considering long-term environmental effects, impact reduction efforts, project alternatives, and the livelihood of residents. Over one-million people voiced their support for protecting the Arctic Refuge in the commenting period of the Draft EIS this past December.

The Alaska National Interest Land Conservation Act of 1980 (ANILCA)

This act recognizes the importance of collaboration between the U.S. and Canada in evaluating the impacts of oil and gas development in Alaska. It also re-iterates the purpose for which the Arctic Refuge was created such as conservation of wildlife populations and habitat, fulfillment of treaty obligations for migratory wildlife, and the continuation of subsistence uses.

The Porcupine Caribou Herd Conservation Agreement of 1987 (PCHCA)

This agreement between Canada and the U.S. aims to ensure international cooperation and coordination on the conservation of the Porcupine Caribou herd and it’s transboundary habitat. It also enables users of the Porcupine Caribou herd to be involved in international conservation effort through initiatives like the Porcupine Caribou Management Board.

Multiple species protection acts

The Draft EIS does a poor job of addressing how it will comply with the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA), the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (MBTA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (MMPA), the 1973 Agreement on the Conservation of Polar Bears, and National Wildlife Refuge mandates.

Inconsistencies with the Tax Act

The Draft EIS is unclear on how the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will administer and manage the oil and gas leasing program, how much actual land will be impacted in total, and how it will implement the components of oil and gas development across the landscape; such as roads and pipelines. The BLM gave short notice for public hearings that occurred in the U.S. and failed to provide public engagement opportunities for numerous regions across Canada as requested by the Vuntut Gwitchin, the Government of Yukon, and the Government of Northwest Territories.

A long history of Arctic Refuge protection

The U.S. and Canada created the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in 1960 and they share a long history of collaboration on cross-border conservation priorities. Since the Yukon and Alaska are impacted by developments within each other’s respective territories, consultation is extremely critical as well as addressing the strong history of public support for protecting the Arctic refuge.

New U.S. Bill – Arctic Cultural and Coastal Plain Protection Act

On May 1, 2019 the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources approved a new bill presented by over 100 lawmakers that would prohibit the BLM from leasing to oil and gas extraction companies in the Arctic refuge. The bill is headed to the House of Representatives next, and if passed, will face a tough battle in the Senate.

Grizzly Bear tracks along the Beaufort Sea shore. The Arctic Refuge is home to black, grizzly, and polar bears. Photo by Malkolm Boothroyd

Braden Lamoureux is an environmental science student from Halifax, NS and is joining CPAWS Yukon for the summer as the Conservation and Events Intern. Stay tuned for more updates on his research about the transboundary conservation issues in the Arctic Refuge. Click here to learn more about Braden

January 25 2019

I read the Draft Environmental Impact Statement on drilling in the Arctic Refuge, so you don’t have to.

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge Arctic Refuge, blog, EIS, Porcupine caribou

Header Image: Ken Madsen
Written by: Malkolm Boothroyd, Campaigns Coordinator

Just before the Christmas holidays began, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management released its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) on oil and gas leasing in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. While the rest of my family was decorating trees I was reading about pipelines and processing facilities on the fragile Arctic tundra. While my nieces and nephew put out goodies for reindeer, I was thinking about the Porcupine caribou herd — and how they would suffer if drilling was ever allowed in their calving grounds.

I’ve read (most of) the 756 page statement, so that you don’t have to. The U.S. Government is rushing to authorize oil and gas drilling, and it shows in the shoddiness of its environmental review. Now it’s time for everyone to comment on how terrible the Draft EIS is. CPAWS Yukon has made it easy — you can add your name to our open letter and send it to the Bureau of Land Management with a single click.

Our platform also makes it easy to personalize your letter. If you have time, I’d love for you to add some specifics about why the Draft EIS is so inadequate. As a pointer here are my five biggest problems with the Draft EIS.

The Draft EIS doesn’t acknowledge Gwich’in communities within Canada when determining which communities would be “appreciably affected” by changes to Porcupine caribou populations or movements. The U.S. Government needs to comprehensively evaluate the social, cultural and health impacts on all Gwich’in communities that rely on the Porcupine caribou herd.

The Draft EIS downplays how important the Arctic Refuge is for the Porcupine caribou herd, and doesn’t properly address the importance of the Coastal Plain for caribou after they calve. The Draft EIS states that the Porcupine caribou herd would not experience major impacts from drilling, but provides almost no evidence to back up this claim. The Draft EIS fails to provide a quantitative analysis of what could happen to the herd if drilling occurs. Tell the U.S. Government that 100% of the Coastal Plain is critical calving and post-calving habitat for the Porcupine caribou. The U.S. Government must undertake a robust, cautionary and evidence-based approach to studying the impacts of drilling on the Porcupine caribou herd.

The Porcupine caribou herd is critical for ecosystems, communities and economies across northern Canada. Drilling in the Arctic Refuge could have serious transboundary (cross-border) impacts on Canada. The Draft EIS fails to consider transboundary impacts of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Refuge. The term ‘transboundary’ doesn’t even show up. Canadians need to tell the U.S. Government to comprehensively evaluate the transboundary impacts of drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

The Draft EIS fails to adequately address cumulative impacts. The cumulative effects assessment on the Porcupine caribou herd is a mere five sentences long, while the polar bear assessment devotes a single sentence to climate change. Tell the U.S. Government that such superficial assessments of cumulative impacts are unacceptable.

The scenarios offered by the Draft EIS are development, development, or development. Each scenario offered by the U.S. Government opens more of the Arctic Refuge to oil and gas leasing than the minimum required under the tax bill that originally opened the Refuge to drilling. Two scenarios open virtually the entirety of the Coastal Plain to leasing, while the third scenario offers over 1 million acres. The Arctic Refuge is too important for oil drilling, anywhere.

It’s critical that Canadians tell the U.S. Government just how flawed the Draft EIS is. Putting our concerns on the public record will help hold the U.S. accountable to its environmental laws.

Take action here: https://action.cpaws.org/page/35106/action/1

P.S. once you write your comment, you get to see a gallery of adorable baby Arctic animals called “Puffy and Fluffy”

To learn about the Porcupine caribou herd and their journey, click here.

June 19 2018

Canadians have made their voices clear: There is no place for oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

CPAWS Yukon News Arctic Refuge, consultation, DEIS, news, Porcupine caribou

OTTAWA (Tuesday, June 19, 2018) — The Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Yukon Chapter (CPAWS Yukon) and Nature Canada together are making sure the U.S. Government knows there is no place for oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Today is the final day of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s public scoping period in advance of its environmental review of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic Refuge. More than 12,000 Canadians have submitted comments and signatures to the U.S. Government, urging the cross-border impacts of oil and gas drilling be addressed.

Every spring the longest land mammal migration on Earth takes place as the Porcupine caribou herd crosses the Yukon and Northwest Territories to give birth in the Arctic Refuge. The Trump administration’s push for oil and gas extraction would strike the heart of these calving grounds, which could have disastrous impacts on the health of the herd and on the Gwich’in communities that rely on caribou for their culture and livelihood.

Quotes:

Dana Tizya-Tramm, Councilor, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation: “From a people that understands resources extremely well by living in the unforgiven environments and climates of the Arctic North, we see the unilateral development of the wellspring of Arctic ecosystems as a significant threat to indigenous peoples, the lands, animals, and our collective futures. It must be known to produce oil and gas from this area can only be done so by manipulating environmental law and trampling human, and indigenous rights.”

Brook Brisson, Senior Staff Attorney at Trustees for Alaska: “Protecting the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge is of international importance. The Porcupine caribou herd migrates through Canada to return to the coastal plain in Alaska to calve and replenish themselves each year. Borders do not mean anything to their survival, but habitat and protected ecosystems do. American laws recognize the international importance of the wildlife in this region, and international agreements give Canadians an important voice in this process. We will ensure that the laws and agreements within and between our countries are upheld.”

Chris Rider, Executive Director of CPAWS Yukon : “The impacts from oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge would not stop at the U.S. – Canada border. Drilling in the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds could have devastating impacts across Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. It’s critical that Canadian’s stand with the Gwich’in and say no to drilling in the Arctic Refuge.”

Graham Saul, Executive Director of Nature Canada: “It is critical we work alongside CPAWS Yukon and the Vuntut Gwitchin to ensure Canadian voices are included in this environmental review. Today’s submission of 12,000 Canadian signatures and comments is an incredible opportunity for Canadians to speak directly to the U.S. government about the serious and irreversible impact oil and gas development would have on one of the last, healthy barren-ground caribou herds on earth. It is Nature Canada’s mission to protect our wildlife areas and countless species that depend on this habitat. We have been doing this for more than 75 years and have helped protect more than 63 million acres of wildlife areas.

Arctic Refuge Background

The Arctic Refuge is home over 200 species of birds, which migrate to six continents and every state in the United States. The Arctic Refuge provides important habitat for polar bears, grizzly bears, wolves and wolverines. It was established by President Eisenhower in 1960 and expanded by President Carter in 1980. In 2017, a provision included in President Trump’s tax overhaul opened parts of the Refuge’s Coastal Plain to oil and gas development.

High-quality images of the Arctic Refuge available for media use:

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/14m9LLrjivux_uTByUhEDJeatPPnN5g31

For comment please contact:

Dana Tizya-Tramm
Councilor, Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation
(867) 333-4335 (cell)

Adil Darvesh
CPAWS Yukon
867-393-8080 x 9
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org

Janet Weichel McKenzie
Nature Canada
(613) 808-4642 (cell)
jweichelmckenze@gmail.com

June 13 2018

Yukon Conservation Society and CPAWS Yukon call for public comments on Arctic Refuge drilling

CPAWS Yukon News Arctic Refuge, consultation, news, Porcupine caribou

WHITEHORSE, Yukon, June 13,2018 – The Yukon Conservation Society and CPAWS Yukon are joining together and urging the U.S. Government to consider the transboundary impacts of oil and gas extraction in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Now is a critical time for Yukoners to voice their support for the Porcupine caribou herd and the Gwich’in. Less than one week remains before the deadline for public comments in the Bureau of Land Management’s scoping period.

The proposed oil and gas extraction would fall in the heart of the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds, which could have disastrous impacts on the health of the herd and on the Gwich’in communities that rely on caribou for their culture and livelihood. “Caribou are an iconic northern animal and a vital part of Gwich’in life,” says Mike Walton, executive director of YCS. “The United States must consult with Canada and the Gwich’in about drilling the calving grounds. Canadians are concerned about the dangers of pursuing oil in caribou country.”

“The Trump administration is attempting to condense its environmental review into an impossibly short time frame,” says Malkolm Boothroyd of CPAWS Yukon. “We have to demand the most comprehensive review possible, and hold them to account if they try to cut corners.” The coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge was opened for development through a provision included within Trump’s controversial tax bill. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has begun the environmental review process of oil and gas lease sales, and is nearing the end of its 60-day public scoping period.

The Gwich’in Steering Committee, Sierra Club, Alaska Wilderness League, EarthJustice, Nature Canada, Environment America, and The Wilderness Society are among the organizations campaigning for the Arctic Refuge’s protection. In May, investors managing over $2.5 trillion USD in global assets called on the oil and gas industry to leave the Arctic Refuge alone. Yukoners can add their support at cpawsyukon.org/porcupine-caribou until June 19th or by writing in person at CPAWS Yukon’s Arctic Refuge Open House: Monday June 18th from 4-6pm in the CPAWS Office at 506 Steele Street.

Contacts:

Adil Darvesh
Communications Coordinator
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org
867-393-8080 x9

Julia Duchesne
Outreach & Communications Director
outreach@yukonconservation.org
867-668-5678

References:
[1] Tax Cuts and Jobs Act: Title II, Section 20001:
https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr1/BILLS-115hr1enr.pdf

[2] U.S. Bureau of Land Management; Coastal Plain Environmental Impact Statement
https://www.blm.gov/programs/planning-and-nepa/plans-in-development/alaska/coastal-plain-eis

[3] National Committee says barren-ground caribou are threatened; Yukon News
https://www.yukon-news.com/news/national-committee-says-barren-ground-caribou-are-threatened/

[4] Species at Risk Public Registry: Caribou Barren-ground population; COSEWIC
http://www.registrelep-sararegistry.gc.ca/species/speciesDetails_e.cfm?sid=1341

[5] Effects of Petroleum Development on Terrain Preferences of Calving Caribou; Arctic
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c4b2/4362c9cf4af2aeb42fce651422aa8a3b88c7.pdf

[6] Investors urge fossil fuel firms to shun Trump’s arctic drilling plans; The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/may/14/investors-urge-fossil-fuel-firms-shun-trump-arctic-drilling-plans-alaskan-wilderness

June 5 2018

Encouraged in Anchorage

CPAWS Yukon Blog, BlogArcticRefuge anchorage, Arctic Refuge, blog, Porcupine caribou

Header Image: Anonymous Security Guard
Written by: Malkolm Boothroyd, Campaigns Coordinator

The US Government must of worked really hard to find such an unappealing photo of the Arctic Refuge. #savethegravel

The fingerprints of the fossil fuel industry cover Anchorage, Alaska. BP logos decorate the airport and Exxon Mobil’s name is carved on the plaques beside commemorative trees. The city’s convention centre sits in the shadow of the ConocoPhillips skyscraper. That’s why I was shocked that nobody from any of the oil companies showed up to the convention centre to testify in favour of oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the heart of the Porcupine caribou herd’s calving grounds.

Indigenous leaders and environmental campaigners have so successfully illustrated the importance of the Arctic Refuge for human rights and the Porcupine caribou, that some of the most powerful oil companies are wary of associating themselves with the issue. Instead contractors and industry lobbyist groups spoke in their place, reiterating talking points of “responsible oil and gas development,” “world class industrial safety” and “I’m a third-generation Alaskan” with such predictability that I wished I’d drawn up bingo cards. Still, we outnumbered the oil and gas advocates almost two-to-one at the hearing.

Indigenous people travelled from as far away as Kaktovik, St. Paul Island and Old Crow to speak for Indigenous rights and protection of the Arctic Refuge. Chris Rider and I made the trip from Whitehorse, to urge the US Government to include transboundary issues be included in the scope of the review. (Add your voice here, it will be super helpful!) Chris spoke about the vulnerability of caribou to industrial development in their calving grounds. I described childhood experiences travelling in the Refuge, and about how caribou, bears, whales and migratory birds do not recognize the Alaska-Canada border.

I left Anchorage empowered. Hearing the powerful words of so many Indigenous leaders, and meeting with the Alaska Wilderness League, The Wilderness Society, Trustees for Alaska and Earthjustice reminded me about how strong our movement is. If I was an oil company I’d be worried too.

Malkolm Boothroyd, CPAWS Yukon Programs Coordinator, speaking at the public consultations in Anchorage, Alaska

Chris Rider, CPAWS Yukon Executive Director, speaking at the public consultation in Anchorage, Alaska

Take Action for the Porcupine caribou

April 20 2018

U.S. government barrels forward to open Canadian caribou herd’s calving grounds to drilling

CPAWS Yukon News Arctic Refuge, Porcupine caribou, scoping period

Whitehorse, Yukon, April 19th, 2018 – Canadians have just been given a chance to speak directly to the U.S. Government about its reckless plan to allow oil and gas development in the birthing grounds of an international barren-ground caribou herd.

The Porcupine caribou herd undergoes the longest land-mammal migration on earth, beginning in their calving grounds in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, then travelling into the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Gwich’in communities have placed themselves strategically along this herd’s migration routes in order to sustain themselves from this seasonal cycle. They call the calving grounds in the Arctic Refuge “Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit,” which translates roughly to “The Sacred Place Where Life Begins.”

Last fall, the Trump Administration made international news by putting this globally significant herd — one of the last healthy barren-ground herds left in North America — in jeopardy when U.S. Congress snuck a provision to drill in the Arctic Refuge into an unrelated federal tax bill.

The Vuntut Gwitchin in Old Crow, Yukon, have been fighting for the past four decades to keep development out of the Porcupine caribou’s caving grounds. Though it happened without proper consultation or debate, the passing of this provision marked the first legal step towards peeling back longstanding protections of the Arctic Refuge.

Today, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management issued a Notice of Intent, which initiates a scoping period for a mandatory environmental review of this decision. The bureau will be collecting public comments from both Americans and Canadians for the next 60 days. Canadians now have the chance to speak directly to the U.S. government about how this oil and gas development would have an impact on our country.

“This is a deeply Canadian issue,” said Chris Rider, Executive Director of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), Yukon Chapter. “Disturbing this fragile ecosystem could have a disastrous effect on the health of the Porcupine caribou herd and the Gwich’in. We need to tell the Trump administration that the only option at this point is simple: stop. Oil and gas development has no place in the heart of the Porcupine Caribou’s calving grounds”

Caribou are incredibly sensitive to light and sound, and any construction in their calving grounds — during one of the most vulnerable phases of their lives —could lead them to abandon the area altogether. The Porcupine caribou have been highlighted as a beacon of hope in the midst of sharp declines by other barren-ground herds across the Canada.3

For the Gwich’in, who rely on the caribou as a main food source, this is an essential food security and human rights issue.

“The Gwitchin’s timeless relationship with the caribou has secured our existence to this day, a relationship that we hold in high regard and with the deepest of respect. The needless threat of developing the Porcupine Caribou Herd’s calving grounds on the coastal plain of Alaska has now elevated this issue to involve all of North America. It is not just the Gwich’in or indigenous peoples’ loss, but all of North America’s last healthy caribou herd whose future is now in question. What does this mean for our collective futures when we no longer show respect for the foundations of our existence? This is a day that signals to the Gwich’in of the northern arctic that our knowledge from before written history and our warnings about the stability of arctic ecosystems are disregarded by US leadership. It is our future generations’ right to continue to enjoy this life-giving relationship with the caribou as we have as the first peoples of these lands. Heed the call, stand with the Gwich’in for what is right, we must each ask ourselves what is more important to us, life, or oil.” – Dana Tizya-Tramm, Councillor, Vuntut Gwitchin Government

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has said they plan to rush through the environmental review process for the lease sale in just over a year. Using a hurried, predetermined plan to complete this process is incompatible with protecting the ecological integrity of the Arctic Refuge.

“By pushing for a lease sale next year, the administration is admitting that they have no intention of seriously evaluating the negative impacts of oil development on wildlife and these wild lands, which science tells us are significant,” said Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society, a leading American non-profit land conservation organization that CPAWS Yukon is working with on this issue. “The Wilderness Society remains opposed to opening the Arctic Refuge coastal plain to drilling. Local communities and the public’s concerns should be fairly considered and addressed. Americans should be outraged at what is being done to the crown jewel of their National Wildlife Refuge System.”

This scoping period is the first phase of that environmental review process. The information gathered during this comment period must inform what will be reviewed as part of the Environmental Impact Statement on the proposed lease sale.
CPAWS Yukon stands with the Gwich’in as they continue to fight for the land that has sustained them for millennia. For more information read our backgrounder on the scoping period, and visit our campaign page.

Media Contact:
Adil Darvesh
1-867-393-8080 ext.9
adarvesh@cpawsyukon.org