Dalton Highway, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska
Dalton Highway, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska

Dalton Highway, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Photo: Peter Mather/National Geographic Creative
Dalton Highway, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. Photo: Peter Mather/National Geographic Creative

News

Vermont Attorney General Donovan Joins Lawsuit to Protect Arctic National Wildlife Refuge From Oil and Gas Development

Many thanks to Vermont’s Office of the Attorney General for joining in a lawsuit to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas development. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to more than 200 species of birds from across the United States that feed and reproduce in the Refuge, taking advantage of the burst of plant and insect life during the long days of the Arctic summer. This list of birds includes species that migrate through Vermont on their way to or from breeding grounds on the Coastal Plain including the American Golden-plover, Snow Bunting, and Whimbrel. These species will be directly affected by the loss of habitat from drilling. These amazing birds are also vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis which, in turn, is caused by the carbon pollution associated with burning oil and gas.

Audubon applauds the efforts of the State of Vermont and the other states that have joined in fighting the federal government’s misguided attempts to open up the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas leasing.

“At a time when the crisis of climate change is already upon us, it is inconceivable that we would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,” said Attorney General T.J. Donovan. “In Vermont, we value our natural world, including the birds that migrate to and from this region of Alaska.”

Read the full Press Release.

A copy of the lawsuit can be found here.

How you can help, right now