As of September 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., the Northern Alaska Environmental Center has placed all programs on pause. This difficult step comes in response to serious financial strain. With limited funds available, the Board of Directors has made the painful but necessary decision to furlough our employees until we can stabilize the organization.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Elisabeth for her leadership, her humor, and her unwavering dedication to protecting the lands, waters, wildlife, and communities of Northern Alaska. We wish her the very best in the adventures to come.
Earlier this month, we asked you to call the House of Representatives demanding they vote no on Alaska Representative Nick Begich’s H.J.R. 106. Now we need your help calling Senators as they prepare to vote on their version of the bill.
Northern Alaska is currently facing two intersecting threats: the loss of federal priority subsistence protections and the overturning of public lands to the state without due public process. This is an unprecedented move from Alaska’s congressional delegation and is being emboldened by the Trump administration’s continued attacks on public lands across the nation.
In June, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum announced plans to revoke protections for the Western Arctic’s National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, once again prioritizing oil and gas industry interests. Now, the Trump administration’s decision to rescind new safeguards for the Reserve’s Special Areas could have devastating impacts.
The House of Representatives is voting on Rep. Nick Begich’s resolution TOMORROW (Tuesday, July 22, 2025). It is critically important that we let members know that we do not support the revocation of federal protections on these lands in the Central Yukon region.
Catch up on past and present environmental updates from our E-Newsletters in this archive, dating back to 2022.
The Alaska Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas is considering a new oil and gas exploration proposal in the Yukon Flats, in addition to asking for more oil exploration proposals. The initial public comment period is open until July 30.
Here at the Northern Alaska Environmental Center, we do our best to provide you with factual, peer-reviewed, and scientifically-supported information. And right now, the fact is the Senate’s proposed budget reconciliation bill is socially unconscionable and environmentally disastrous.
Our annual event supporting Arctic advocacy, Run for the Refuge, is just around the corner! As this event approaches thirty years, we are eager to know more about its original supporters—what is it about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge that continues to draw you in and what stories do you have?