For the third time this month, Alaska's Governor Parnell has written to Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell urging her to open up the Federal Refuges in Alaska to guides and support businesses during the federal shutdown.

In addition, Parnell told the Interior Secretary that if the United States Fish and Wildlife Service did not reverse their decision and re-open the refuges to guides and outfitters by the close of business hours Tuesday, that the state of Alaska would seek a temporary restraining order from a federal judge forcing them to do so.

“Supervision of these areas is not labor intensive, and all we ask is that outfitters and guides – who already possess the requisite permits and certifications, and who have already paid for these permits – be allowed to conduct their normal activities in federal refuges and that Alaskans be allowed to participate in the state-managed hunts that take place on federal lands,” Governor Parnell wrote.

According to Parnell’s letter, the Secretary of the Interior had offered to re-open the refuges if the state of Alaska paid the costs of operations. But, according to Parnell, after the federal offer, his staff contacted the Department of the Interior to query what those costs would be, but received no reply to their request of operating costs.

In a statement released from his office on Tuesday, Parnell said, “With everything else that is going on, litigation between our respective principals should be avoided,” Governor Parnell added. “However, the financial impact and inconvenience to Alaskans can no longer be ignored, and we will seek to reopen these refuges based on the USFWS’ failure to follow its own closure regulations and other inconsistent positions adopted by DOI, which have been repeatedly brought to your attention.”

The governor’s letter to Secretary Jewell can be read here.