Take action and let the current administration know that you want to see the Teshekpuk Lake wetlands protected. (Photo courtesy of Coyote Air Service, www.flycoyote.com) The threat of oil and gas development has returned to the sensitive wetlands surrounding the western Arctic’s Teshekpuk Lake. Internationally recognized as vital habitat for migratory birds and molting geese, the Teshekpuk Lake wetlands have been protected for 30 years. Last year, the Bush administration tried to remove these protections, but its effort to open the area to the oil and gas industry was rejected by the federal courts. Now, one year later, the Bush administration and its drilling plans are back.Monday, August 20, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued a court-ordered revision to an environmental impact statement for the Teshekpuk Lake planning area. Unfortunately, while the plan considered a number of new factors – from the potentially threatened status of the polar bear to long-term heath impacts on Alaska Natives – the BLM failed to offer any different alternatives from their original oil and gas leasing plan.There are still three weeks left to comment on the administration’s plan to open the Teshekpuk Lake wetlands to the oil and gas industry. At this stage in the process, it is crucially important that we let the administration know how the American public feels about this issue. Please take action and submit a comment to the BLM. Let the administration know that you want to see the Teshekpuk Lake wetlands protected for the wildlife, for the local communities, and for future generations.Thanks for keeping Alaska wild, Cindy ShoganExecutive Director, Alaska Wilderness Leaguewww.AlaskaWild.org If you no longer wish to receive e-mail from us, please click here. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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