"Interior Secretary David Bernhardt has once again revived a proposed land exchange that would clear the way for a controversial gravel road to be built through wilderness within Alaska's Izembek National Wildlife Refuge.

Bernhardt, without any notice to the public, quietly signed a new land exchange agreement with King Cove Corp. on July 3 — nearly two weeks before the Interior Department dropped an appeal of a federal judge's ruling that tossed out a similar agreement signed by then-Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

Judge Sharon Gleason of the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska concluded in a ruling last March that the Zinke agreement violated the Administrative Procedure Act because Interior had failed to justify the change in policy from the Obama administration, which found the road would be too destructive (E&E News PM, March 29)."

Scott Streater reports for E&E News PM July 24, 2019. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"Deal Reached For Land Swap For Road Through Wildlife Refuge" (AP) [3]