JUNEAU — The state is appealing the dismissal of a case challenging the U.S. Interior Department’s refusal to allow for a road through a wildlife refuge to ease medical evacuations.
The state’s appealing with the city of King Cove, Alaska Native interests and others.
According to court records, Congress, in 2009, passed legislation authorizing a land swap for a road between King Cove and Cold Bay that primarily would be used for health and safety purposes. The Interior secretary was required to comply with a federal environmental law as part of the determination on whether to carry out the exchange.
U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland found no violation of the environmental law and said the 2009 legislation didn’t include a public health and safety component in the environmental review process.
