The Department of Interior decision to prohibit a road between King Cove and Cold Bay 25 miles away has ired Alaska's politicians, who made remarks after the decision.

The anti-road decision was announced today by the Department of the Interior (DOI) in releasing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) recommending a “no build alternative.” The decision specifically prohibits a strategic three-way land exchange between the State of Alaska, village corporations, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The exchange would allow for construction of the road through Izemak National Wildlife Refuge on the Alaska Peninsula and provide King Cove residents with access to the airport runway in Cold Bay.

The United States Fish and Wildlife Service selected the “No Action” alternative to the Department of Interior’s final Environmental Impact Statement for the King Cove/Cold Bay Access Project.

Governor Parnell expressed deep frustration with the USFWS decision, saying , “I cannot fathom why the Fish and Wildlife Service prioritized a perceived risk to birds over an existing threat to human life,” Governor Parnell said. “After years of good faith efforts by the State of Alaska, the Alaska Legislature, the Aleutians East Borough, the City of King Cove, the King Cove Corporation, the Agdaagux Tribe, the Belkofski Tribe, and local residents to work with the federal government, the USFWS chose to deny King Cove residents access to basic services, like all-weather medical evacuation.”

“The weather in that region is some of the most dangerous in the world,” Governor Parnell added. “The residents need and deserve a safe, reliable transportation option. A road will save lives, and is the only workable long-term solution.”

Senator Murkowski came out against the decision by DOI and USFWS as well, saying, “This decision is unacceptable and reflects a wanton disregard for the lives of the Aleut people who have called the Aleutians home for thousands of years. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a matter of life and death to the people of King Cove,” Murkowski said. “Too many people have died already for there to be any legitimate excuse for further delay.”

“When you consider the number of life-threatening accidents that have occurred due to the challenges of flying into King Cove during foul weather, I believe there is no greater good than providing safe road access to the all-weather airport at nearby Cold Bay,” Murkowski said.

Alaska’s Senator Begich called the no go of a road for emergency purposes for the residents of King Cove “an issue of life and death.” He blasted at the Interior Department today in a press release, saying, “This wrong-headed decision by Washington bureaucrats simply ignores the life and safety realities of the Alaskans who call the community of King Cove home. King Cove residents need access to a viable airport in case of emergency and Cold Bay airport is just 25 miles away. I voted for a bill shortly after arriving in the Senate in 2009 to provide King Cove residents access to this airport and now Washington is ignoring the will of Congress and the needs of Alaskans,” Begich said.

“I’ll be working over the next few months to make sure the residents of King Cove have a voice in this decision and that DOI understands the importance of this road as the best interest finding is prepared.”

Alaska’s sole Representative to Washington said after the announcement of the two department’s decision, “Today’s decision is a betrayal of the residents of King Cove, and further demonstrates how beholden this Administration is to environmental extremists. This Administration’s choice will continue to prevent the community of King Cove from having reliable access to the only all weather airport in the region; often their only lifeline to safe and reliable access to medical facilities.

“How many King Cove residents must perish due to a lack of immediate medical attention for the Department of the Interior to allow this land exchange? At a minimum, the Secretary of the Interior should look these Alaskans in the eye and explain why some seaweed and ducks trump their access to reliable life-saving transport. To date, a meeting with representatives of King Cove has never been granted by the Secretary.

“These Alaskans simply want limited road access to an all-weather airport, something many in Alaska and nearly all Americans in the Lower 48 take for granted. Simply put, today’s decision is shameful, and I am horrified that the federal government would turn its back on the health and safety of its residents.

“In 2009, Congress passed the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Act, and although this is the final EIS, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will have the final say. This will likely be one of his final actions as Secretary, and I hope he gives the tremendous impact of this issue thoughtful reflection.”

At a federal public hearing on the road earlier this year in early May a testimony was given on behalf of Stanley Mack, the Mayor of the Aleutians East Borough, making an impassioned plea to allow the land exchange to go through to allow for an access road from the isolated community and the airport in Cold Bay. He pointed to the record of the Aleut people and their tradition of only taking what they needed from the land and leaving all the rest. He said in his testimony, “If you’re a swan or any other animal who wants a life in the wild, you’re pretty happy with the Aleut way.”

At times, in King Cove, illness strikes when the weather is inclement. Small aircraft are unable to access the community from Cold Bay, their only outlet to the outside world. When that happens, the only option left for the patient is to be transported by boat to Cold Bay 25 miles away. There are times as well, that even transport by boat is impossible because of the weather conditions.

The land exchange that would allow for a road between King Cove and the airstrip at Cold Bay was approved by Congress in 2009, the land exchange would have swelled the size of the Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuge by more than 56,000 acres in exchange for 206 acres of federal land for the construction of fthe road.

The road between Cold Bay and King Cove has been opposed by various environmental groups.