[Alaska] Governor Sarah Palin [on June 17, 2009]…sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of the Interior expressing her support for the exchange of state-owned land for federal land within the Izembek and Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuges (Land Exchange, 2009, ¶1).
In the letter, Governor Palin urged Secretary Ken Salazar to initiate proceedings for an environmental impact statement, which is required under the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Act (Land Exchange, 2009, ¶2).
The exchange is necessary to facilitate construction of a road from King Cove to Cold Bay using approximately 206 acres of land in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The road is deemed necessary by the residents of King Cove and by the Aleutians East Borough to provide a safe, secure means of transportation to the airport in Cold Bay (Land Exchange, 2009, ¶3).
In the letter, Governor Palin said, “The state statutes require that when an exchange of state land involves unequal or uncertain appraised land values, the Alaska State Legislature must grant final approval of the exchange. To that effect, shortly after…Obama signed the Omnibus Public Lands Act into law, state legislation (House Bill 210) was introduced in the Alaska State Legislature to ratify the exchange. This bill was passed in the Alaska State House within a few days of introduction by a vote of 38-0. The state expects passage of the bill in the State Senate will occur as soon as practicable when the Alaska State Legislature resumes its current session. Passage in the State Senate during the first half of the current state legislative session was delayed only by the interim adjournment of the Alaska State Legislature under its term limit for adjournment. I am fully prepared to sign the legislation into law as soon as it is passed” (Land Exchange, 2009, ¶4).
Commentary
This land exchange will turn over federal land to the State of Alaska so that a needed road can built. The letter Governor Palin wrote requests an environmental impact statement, which is the first step in the process of executing the exchange.
An all-too-disturbing trend in politics today is close roads, reduce speed limits, restrict energy production — in other words block progress, usually in the name of “going green.” Governor Palin is building roads, pipelines and other infrastructure, thereby advancing progress — the hallmarks of an advanced civilized society. The Governor has no use for the politics of retrogression, regardless of how they’re couched.
References
Land Exchange Has Governor Palin’s Support. (2009, June 17). State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 18, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/news.php?id=1911
Palin, S.L.H. (2009, June 16). Letter to Secretary of State Ken Salazar to initiate land exchange environmental impact statement. State of Alaska, Governor. Retrieved June 18, 2009 from: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/SectSalazar_IzembekLandAct_June16-2009.pdf
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