Editor’s Note: This story, originally published 10/20/25, has been corrected to reflect the fact that H.J. Res. 106 passed both the House and the Senate. Its companion resolution, S.J. Res. 63, was not voted on. Additionally, both MRAK and the author of this story gladly join Begich, Sullivan, and Murkowski in celebration of this reversal, which will aid Alaskan industry. The reporting of opponents’ environmental concerns does not reflect MRAK’s opinion of the reversal but rather serves to highlight existing tensions.
The Biden administration issued the Central Yukon Resource Management Plan (CYRMP) Record of Decision (ROD) in November 2024. On President Trump’s first day in office, he signed an Executive Order directing the Secretary of the Interior to rescind CYRMP and reinstate a prior draft plan. The Alaskan Congressional Delegation joined forces to accomplish this directive. Sullivan and Murkowski wrote S.J. Res. 63 and Begich wrote H.J. Res 106. Begich’s joint resolution passed the House on Sept 3 and then passed the Senate by a vote of 50 to 46 on October 9. Begich, Sullivan, and Murkowski celebrate the joint resolution now heading to the President’s office.
S.J. Res 63/ H.J. Res 106 will “prevent BLM from implementing sweeping and permanent restrictions on access, development, and infrastructure across more than 13 million acres of public land in Alaska within the 56-million-acre planning area (a land mass nearly the size of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania combined).”
Proponents of the joint resolution presented four arguments for why overturning CYRMP is essential to Alaskan success: 1) CYRMP overly restricts land use and regulatory overreach undermines national interests; 2) the joint resolution will mitigate threats to U.S. energy and mineral security; 3) CYRMP contradicts federal law and policy, specifically the Federal Land Management and Policy Act (FLPMA) and the Alaska National Interest Land Conversation Act (ANILCA); and 4) the joint resolution upholds local sovereignty and implements stakeholder input.
Numerous Alaskan corporations, associations, and communities supported the join resolution, including Doyon, Limited, an Alaska Native Corporation and major landowner in the region; the Alaska North Slope Regional Trilateral—the Iñupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, the North Slope Borough, and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation; the Alaska Miners Association; Americans for Prosperity; American Energy Alliance; the National Federation of Independent Business; the American Exploration and Mining Association; Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions; the Resource Development Council of Alaska; and the Trump administration.
While the passing of the joint resolution promises immense industry gains, some warn against its impact on our environment. Cooper Freeman, Alaska Director at the Center for Biological Diversity, states: “The Senate just plunged northern Alaska into chaos, ripping up a balanced land management plan that Alaskans spent years collaborating on.”
He further explains how CYRMP provided essential protections for Alaskan wildlife: The existing plan was vital for both the people in the region and the salmon, caribou and Dall sheep that will suffer if migration routes are cut off and habitat isn’t protected. Our Alaska delegation should stop selling out our communities and public lands to out-of-state corporations that just want to plunder our state for profit.”
The passing of S.J. Res 63/ H.J. Res 106 reflects the ongoing tension between industry-minded Alaskans and environment-focused Alaskans. Should Alaskans prioritize unlocking essential energy and mineral resources at the expense of the environment? Or should Alaskans seek legislation that protects wildlife even if such protections hamper national interests? The issue remains divisive.
The issue remains divisive? I don’t think so. A small minority sponsored by Rich elite living outside of the state trying to shut our state down and make it a big park. Is Must Read Alaska moving to the left?
Yes.
> Is Must Read Alaska moving to the left?
I am wondering that myself. Natalie Spaulding seems to write many of these stories.
Suzanne’s non compete runs out soon, but her site still has national news.
MRA will die with BS like this post headline.
It sure looks that way.
Central Yukon Resource Management Plan Record of Decision was another phony lockup and getting rid of it will have no negative environmental effects. Stop the hand-wringing and look take a realistic look at the effects of industrial development in Alaska over the last 50 years.
You mean like the Exxon Valdez oil spill?
In case you missed it Exxon paid dearly and fishing goes on.
….And the pipelines on the slope were going to disrupt the caribou migration as well… except it didn’t. Go north and you will find the caribou taking shelter under the only source of shade available, the pipelines and the production facilities.
What a terrible headline. “Favors Industry Over Environmental Concerns” How about this decision is what’s best for everyone? How can people “save the environment” if we can’t make a living?
Good point. Funny how the discussion is either/or; time for a more “eastern” approach embracing both/and. All the photos oil field workers have taken of caribou next to oil field structures indicate the creatures exhibit a greater tolerance for development done well than their “protectors.” I wish Chicken Little would take a month off.
What of the old stories the Wrangell St.Elias Park Service collected from the old-timers out there – the ones where they remebered folks clearing out every dall sheep they saw each fall for subsistence. That sort of thing can really upset any “natural balance” a regulator might hope to acheive, and has nothing to do with oil and mining. Except good paying jobs might take some pressure off the wild food sources.
I haven’t seen this in new federal register publication or comments. Why not? It needs new law and rulings to qualify.
Sad to see this site changing. I imagine it was Suzanne’s investigative reporting about Anchorage and LaFrance’s homeless encampments. All we need are the buzzwords equity, equality, and marginalized neighborhoods thrown in.
Dan Sullivan is ‘married’ to a noble tribal native who has a no-show no-compete no-work C Suite position on a grifting native corporation who benefit from government grift set-aside special treatment orchestrated by Sullivan who publicly declared “Stakeholder” based governance and thus destroying Shareholder business methods.
Green globalist acolyte
You sound racist. Are you a racist?
100% factual entry. Are you illiterate? Are you maoist? Molochite?
If you can’t argue facts, why not go VFR direct to character assassination? Well done (/sarc). You mist be very proud. Cheers –
All verifiable facts. You just need to STFU and examine the public record.
Under Biden, the management plan was crafted, reviewed and shoved down the unwilling throats of Alaskans by a tiny number of green insiders with no regard at all about the needs or interests of anyone else. Spare me your crocodile tears. Congress has spoken. Perhaps you ought to listen to them as they appear to be listening to the rest of us. Cheers –
Congress has burnt another bad Biden mismanagement plan.
Nice work by the Alaska Delegation.
More will help.
“Center for Biological Diversity”. If the name alone doesn’t tell you which way they lean, a visit to their website will remove all doubt. Next to each staff member’s name, (pronouns) are listed. Cooper Freeman’s pronouns are He/Him. He has a degree in Environmental Law and Policy from Vermont Law School. Maybe MRAK will change their name. Maybe “Milquetoast Alaska”. Or possibly “Must RINO Alaska”. How long before this site, like so many other organizations, is taken over by leftists? Probably not long.
This item seems a bit AI to me.