Trump order baffles Bering Sea Elders

When President Donald Trump signed an order last week lifting his predecessor’s restrictions on offshore leasing in the Arctic, he also revoked a decree that created the “Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area.”

President Barack Obama imposed protections on the Bering Straits. President Trump revoked them. (Map courtesy Bering Sea Elders Group)
President Barack Obama imposed protections on the Bering Straits. President Trump revoked them. (Map courtesy Bering Sea Elders Group)

“People on the coast that we work with are a mixture of outraged and disappointed,” said Attorney Natalie Landreth, who represents Bering Sea Elders Group.

The elders are concerned increased ship traffic through the Bering Strait will damage their marine mammal hunts.

Barack Obama’s protection of the Bering Strait was done at their request, the group said. For Landreth, the key part of Obama’s order was that it created a tribal advisory committee.

“That was the big victory in it, … the inclusion of local Alaskan voices in federal decisions,” Landreth said. “They cannot figure out why that would be targeted to be taken away. They just don’t understand it.”

Trump’s order cited the goal of “streamlining” regulations.

Back in December, Alaska’s congressional delegation issued a joint statement slamming Obama’s Bering Sea directive as an attempt to lock up resources.

Besides creating the advisory group, the directive also put Norton Sound and St. Lawrence Island off-limits to off-shore oil and gas leasing, using the same “12a” authority Obama used in the Arctic.

Sen. Dan Sullivan called it a “unilateral action to hurt Alaskans.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s spokeswoman said Monday the senator thinks federal officials should still consult with Bering Sea Elders and other locals when they make decisions for the area.

Alaska Public Media

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