President Bush May Open Alaska's Bristol Bay to Offshore Drilling

Fishing groups, Native interests and Conservation groups send open letter urging the President to maintain protection for Bristol Bay.

The Wilderness Society

Anchorage (November 29, 2006) – A number of separate sources are confirming that President Bush plans to rescind the “Executive OCS Leasing Withdrawal” for Alaska’s Bristol Bay within the next few days. For years, the presidential withdrawal has prohibited offshore oil and gas development in this highly sensitive region of the nation’s Outer Continental Shelf.

In response, diverse organizations including fishing groups, conservation organizations and Native interests sent an open letter to the President today urging him to maintain protection for Bristol Bay. These groups are reflective of the many organizations representing millions of U.S. citizens that have recently voiced opposition to offshore oil and gas development in Bristol Bay via public comments to the federal Minerals Management Service.

As the letter states, “The presidential withdrawal, currently in effect until 2012, serves a vital role in protecting the world-class marine resources, sea life, fishing livelihoods, and resource-dependent coastal communities of the region from the potentially devastating ecological, economic, social, and cultural impacts of offshore oil and gas development.” (Copy of the letter pasted below end of release.)

The offshore area targeted for oil and gas development supports unparalleled fisheries including the world’s largest wild run of sockeye salmon. The area being considered also overlaps with critical habitat for the highly endangered North Pacific right whale. The region’s coastal wetlands, lagoons and sheltered bays serve as migratory hubs, staging areas and wintering grounds for huge numbers of waterfowl and shorebirds.

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