Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - A large coalition of Southeast Alaska Native Tribes and communities, small businesses, and conservation organizations has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for exempting the Tongass National Forest from the federal Roadless Rule.
Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Juneau on behalf of the Organized Villages of Kake, Saxman, the Hoonah Indian Association, the Ketchikan Indian Community, the Klawock Cooperative Association, the Women s Earth and Climate Action Network, the Boat Company, Uncruise, Alaska Longline Fishermen s Association, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Natural Resources Defense Council, Alaska Rainforest Defenders, Alaska Wilderness League, Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club, Defenders of Wildlife, National Audubon Society, Wilderness Society, Greenpeace, Inc. the National Wildlife Federation and Environment America.
When Alaska fought for statehood, it was an uphill battle. The final vote in Congress in 1958 was far from unanimous. The opposition focused on the vast size of Alaska and concerns that the federal government could not possibly provide the same level of infrastructure in Alaska it does in the Lower 48.
However, Congress ultimately recognized that Alaska is a resource rich state that could live off revenues, such as royalties and taxes, from the development of these resources. This recognition resulted in the Statehood Compact, whereby 103 million acres were to be transferred to the state of Alaska, along with the mineral rights for these lands a unique endowment for a state. Alaska would share the mineral revenues with the federal government and would fund state government operations from its share of revenues and establish an independent economy. That was the deal we made with the federal government and we ve kept our side of the bargain.
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