Comments Open On Proposed Winter Access Across Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The US Fish and Wildlife Service is accepting public comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment for a right of way requested by Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation (KIC). KIC seeks a 20-year right-of-way (ROW) permit for certain Refuge lands located between the western boundary of the Refuge and KIC’s inholdings near the community of Kaktovik. The ROW permit would enable KIC to annually create and utilize a winter snow trail for the purpose of transporting large equipment and commodities to its inholdings.
Project Applicant: Kaktovik Iñupiat Corporation (KIC)
Docket Number: FWS-RX-NWRS-2024-1166.
Area Affected: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Comment Deadline: February 9, 2026
The ROW permit would accommodate two routes—a shore fast sea ice route, which is normally used for access to Kaktovik and an unprecedented overland route—along with three connecting routes that join the overland and sea ice routes. Vehicles (read: heavy oil and gas equipment) could move between the sea ice and overland routes at these three locations.
How to Submit a Comment: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/01/23/2026-01252/notice-of-availability-draft-environmental-assessment-for-the-proposed-winter-access-across-arctic
This is NOT a comment period on Trump’s oil and gas lease sale in the Arctic Refuge, which opened this week: BLM seeks input, nominations for oil and gas lease sale in Coastal Plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Comments Open On Federal Subsistence Management Program
Public meeting on February 3 from 3 to 7pm at the Gordon Watson Conference Room, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office a: 1011 E. Tudor Road To join via Microsoft Teams, go to Click here to join event.
Call-in number: (833) 436-1163; conference ID: 829 130 64#
The Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture are undertaking a limited review of the Federal Subsistence Management Program, and this event is part of a public scoping process to inform the review.
Project Applicant: Department of Interior
Docket Number: DOI-2025-0170
Area Affected: All Federal Lands in Alaska
Comment Deadline: February 13, 2026
Comments can be submitted by email to subsistence@ios.doi.gov, or through www.regulations.gov, docket number DOI-2025-0170.
The Alaska Federation of Natives has a useful fact sheet on this issue and the threats to subsistence rights: Subsistence Rights Sheet.
They ask that you file comments explaining how the Federal Subsistence Board impacts your region and ask the Department to fully consider all potential impacts to your region from changes to the FSB, which could include the total loss of the rural subsistence priority. Please reach out to afninfo@nativefederation.org
for a copy of a template letter.
For more information, go to https://www.doi.gov/subsistence/FSMP_Scoping_Process.