The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, located in the northeast corner of Alaska, is under attack by the Trump administration. Spanning more than 19 million acres, it is the largest wildlife refuge in the country and home to all three species of North American bear, porcupine caribou, wolves and musk oxen — which once roamed alongside the woolly mammoth. 

Earlier this year, the Trump administration’s second attempt to lease out the refuge to drilling earned no industry interest. Despite failing twice, the administration is trying yet again to open up more than 1.5 million acres of beautiful, untouched wilderness to destructive oil and gas drilling. 

In the June 20 article “What the public lands fight means for Maine,” Chris De’Angelo wrote, “Public lands, waters and wildlife are part of our birthright as American citizens, a public domain that we all collectively own, regardless of our proximity.” Whether you are an environmentalist, a hunter, a hiker or an angler, protecting our public lands should be a priority for our Earth and our liberty. Contact your senators and representatives to urge them to vote against H.J. Res. 131 and S.J. Res. 91. 

Connor Scafidi
York