Proposed Land Exchange and Acquisitions within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge

Background Information

Doyon, Limited, an Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) Corporation, currently owns 1.25 million acres within the exterior boundary of Yukon Flats NWR. Negotiators for Doyon and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska Region, have agreed in principle to provide Doyon title to some refuge lands that may hold developable oil and gas resources. In exchange, the Service would receive habitat currently owned by Doyon within the refuge boundary. This would consist of wetlands previously identified by the Service as quality fish and wildlife habitat.

• News Release March 24, 2006
• Statement May 27, 2005
• News Release March 29, 2005
• News Release November 22, 2004 (pdf)
• News Release October 21, 2004 (pdf)
• Agreement in Principle - Text and Maps (pdf - 12mb)
• Evaluation and Review -
  • Biotic Assessment of the Beaver Creek Watershed (pdf)
  • Complete Document (pdf -24mb)
  • Document less appendices (pdf - 1.8mb)
  • Appendices only, including maps (pdf - 22mb)
• Summary of Public Comments (pdf)

Current Status

The Service prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the potential impacts of the proposed exchange and other reasonable alternatives. Please visit the project website to view or download a copy of the DEIS, to submit a comment using an on-line comment form, or to obtain additional information on the EIS process.

Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge Homepage