Residents from King Cove are in Washington D.C. this week to once again attempted to win approval for a road through a wildlife refuge at the tip of the Alaska Peninsula.
The delegation told interior secretary Sally Jewell about how important the need for is for a road to the all-weather airport in Cold Bay, primarily for medical emergencies.
Following that meeting, Jewell faced additional pressure from Sen. Lisa Murkowsk at a Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee meeting.
Sen. Murkowski (R-AK): “I need you to carry the message to this administration that this road is non-negotiable, that the health and safety of the people of King Cove is non-negotiable and that I will do everything, everything within my power to make sure that the needs of these people are taken care of.”
During that hearing, Sen. Murkowski showcased a jacket decorated with the Incredible Hulk much like the neckties worn by the late former Senator Ted Stevens during tough debates.
Secretary Jewell in December shot down a land swamp for a road corridor through the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, but she has since agreed to reconsider that decision based on the new information provided by King Cove residents.
