Arctic Refuge Sign on Letter - Final copy and Update by Monica Scherer, Director of Outreach, Alaska Wild

Photo courtesy of Alaska Wild.

More than 700,000 individuals sent comments to BLM in favor of protection for the Arctic Refuge. In addition to the letter signed by your organization and 130 others, letters calling for protection of the Arctic Refuge were also submitted by scholars, outdoor industries, athletes, and faith organizations.

Note: Western Cuyahoga Audubon Society joined Northeast Ohio Audubon chapters Blackbrook Audubon Society, Canton Audubon Society, Kirtland Bird Club, Firelands Audubon Society, and Black River Audubon Society, and 130 other organizations from across the U.S. calling for the protection of the Arctic Refuge. Here's the follow up letter from Monica Scherer, Director of Outreach at the Alaska Wilderness League.

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Dear Arctic Refuge friend -

Thank you again for signing the organizational letter to the Bureau of Land Management during its recent public comment period on plans to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Here is a copy of the final letter. The 60-day comment period ended Tuesday and I just wanted to share with you a few highlights and next steps.

​More than 700,000 individuals sent comments to BLM in favor of protection for the Arctic Refuge. In addition to the letter signed by your organization and 130 others, letters calling for protection of the Arctic Refuge were also submitted by scholars, outdoor industries, athletes, and faith organizations.

Alaska Wilderness League is the only non-profit focused solely on protecting the wild places of Alaska. If you want to keep Alaska wild, you must be a part of the effort. Visit Alaska Wild.

Over 200 people showed up at a rally Washington, D.C. before the scheduled BLM public hearing. Your comments were represented by 49 state signs representing the states that did not get a hearing and contained the number of comments received from residents. 

Inside the D.C. hearing, time allowed for public testimony from 45 attendees. From 6:30 - 9 p.m. on a Friday night, one after another, all 45 people testified in FAVOR of protection.

Leading up to the D.C. hearing, BLM conducted a number of hearings in Alaska. At both the Fairbanks and Anchorage hearing, more than 100 Alaskans rallied for protection of the Refuge. 

So what's next?
Our long term goal remains: protect the Arctic Refuge. To do this we need to continue to demonstrate broad public support, apply pressure to oil companies who turn their eye to the Arctic Refuge, and engage the administration during every aspect of the BLM planning process. 

BLM recently announced the next step in its lease plan would be released by the end of this year. Between now and then we will continue to build support for the Arctic. Talk to your neighbors, your family and friends, and if you'd like to know how you can help in your community please let us know! 

Thank you for your continued support!
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Monica
Director of Outreach

Alaska Wilderness League
122 C St NW, Ste 240
Washington, DC 20001
Tel: 202-544-5205 
Fax: 202-544-5197
[email protected] 

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