Fairbanks Daily News-Miner editorial 
Editor’s note: The following editorial from May 1, 1961, followed up on
the News-Miner’s long editorial campaign in favor of establishing what
would become the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska’s northeastern
corner. However, as this editorial reflects, concepts of how the area
should be used then differed considerably among the interest groups
advocating the designation.

Some politically potent Alaskans are urging Secretary of the Interior
Steward L. Udall to rescind his predecessor’s 1960 order which created
the Arctic Wildife Range.

The Wildlife Management Institute has taken note of new attacks against
the wildlife range by the Legislature, Governor Egan and Alaska’s
congressional delegation.

Fred A. Seaton, former Interior secretary, had the authority to establish
the wildlife range on the federal government’s public lands. He asked
Congress for the authorization bill, however, because it contained a
provision designed to protect both the wildlife and mining interests.
Secretary Seaton felt it unwise to exercise his authority to withdraw the
range and leave it open to mining under existing laws. Under applicable
laws, he feared impairment of the area’s wildlife, scenic and wilderness
values. Seaton issued his widely acclaimed order after the Senate failed
to move on the House-approved bill, and the area now is closed to mining.

Conservationists told Congress they were willing to accept miners on the
Arctic Wildlife Range, providing title to the land surface remained with
the U.S. and that ingress, egress and other pertinent matters were
subject to federal approval.

In our opinion, it is regrettable the Arctic Wildlife Range had to be
established by executive order of the Secretary of the Interior. Action
by Congress in approving Secretary Seaton’s bill providing multiple use
of the wildlife range would have enabled us “to have our cake and eat it
too.”

However, there is nothing to prevent the present Congress from enacting a
“multiple use bill” that will provide mining rights with similar
privileges to mining rights on state-owned lands ... a bill that also
will largely satisfy the Wildlife Management Institute and other
conservationists.

We urge our Alaska congressional delegation to support multiple use
legislation for the Arctic Wildlife Range.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]

Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship
e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's
latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent
editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/