Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell, announced on Monday, that after a four-year analysis of the land swap, that would have allowed the community of King Cove to connect with Cold Bay and its airport facilities there, was declined.

Stating that irreversible damage would be done if a road were allowed through the Izembek National Widlife Refuge, which was established in the 1960s, Jewell said that an alternate solution would be needed instead.

The environmental impact assessment that would hold over 130 public meetings in a public process on the land exchange issue, and during which time, Jewell herself, would travel to the communities of King Cove and Cold Bay as well as the refuge itself, with Senator Lisa Murkowski in August, could not sway her decision to rule against the interests of the state and the community of King Cove.

“The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, established in 1960, serves as vital habitat for shorebirds and waterfowl – including 98 percent of the world’s population of Pacific black brant – as well as grizzly bear, caribou and salmon. These species are important subsistence resources for Native Alaskans. A road would have permanently bisected the isthmus, where most of the Refuge’s 315,000 acres of congressionally-designated wilderness are located,” said a release by the DOI.

“We’ve undertaken a robust and transparent public process to review the matter from all sides, and I have personally visited the Refuge and met with the King Cove and Cold Bay communities to gain a better understanding of their concerns,” said Jewell. “After careful consideration, I support the Service’s conclusion that building a road through the Refuge would cause irreversible damage not only to the Refuge itself, but to the wildlife that depend on it. Izembek is an extraordinary place – internationally recognized as vital to a rich diversity of species – and we owe it to future generations to think about long-term solutions that do not insert a road through the middle of this Refuge and designated wilderness. I understand the need for reliable methods of medical transport from King Cove, but I have concluded that other methods of transport remain that could be improved to meet community needs.”

The idea of a road between the 950-person community of King Cove and facilities at Cold Bay, that is home to one of the longest runways in the state, have been discussed since the 1980s. But, former Senator Ted Stevens took up the cause, and spearheaded an effort in 1997 that resulted in $37.5 million in funding that would instead improve the medical clinic in King Cove, add improvements to the King Cove airstrip and provide for an unpaved road to a hovercraft terminal that could transport patients to Cold aBay via hovercraft.

That hovercraft was successful at transporting medical evacuations from the community from 2007 until 2010. But, it was then that the Aleutians East Borough decided to suspend hovercraft operations between the two locations.

Jewell’s decision united state leaders of both parties against the decision.

Upon hearing the news of Jewell’s decision, Alaska’s delegation to Washington disagreed with the Department of Interior. Representative Don Young called the announcement on the decision that came just before the holidays “the largest pile of horse manure” to have ever been delivered on Christmas, while Alaska’s junior senator, Mark Begich said that the decision “was sad” and said that the Department of the Interior “does not listen to Alaskans.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski said that a decision to build a road to Cold Bay would have been a simple one and that Jewell had failed.

Alaska’s governor, Sean Parnell stated that he was outraged by the DOI decision not to allow a life-saving road between the communities, and called it a matter of life or death.

“Today’s decision is unconscionable,” Governor Parnell said. “This is another irrational decision by the federal government that denies Alaskans access – in this case access to emergency treatment. As governor, I will continue to fight for the residents of King Cove who deserve much better.”

Bethel Representative, Bob Herron, said after learning of Jewell’s decision, “The Grinch is stealing the spirit of Christmas from King Cove, a lump of coal is being delivered in time for the holidays, and they – and other Alaskans – have every right to be outraged. I share their feelings, and have been concerned about the project since the EIS process began.”

Herron would go on to say, “I stand with our congressional delegation, our state administration, my colleagues in the Legislature, and most importantly – the residents of King Cove, this injustice should not stand,The pat on the head from Secretary Jewell, offering to send us along on a search for an alternative, is really a slap in the face.”