Wednesday, September 09, 2015

Negative reactions pour in after federal ruling preventing King Cove road

King Cove tribal and community leaders announced in a press release that they plan on continuing their efforts to build a nine-mile road that would connect the isolated community to Cold Bay Airport. The road would be a life-line for a community where people have to be airlifted in order to get any kind of emergency medical attention. "While the King Cove Group is disappointed with the District Court decision, we always knew this would be difficult," King Cove leaders wrote in a press release. "We are studying the decision and will consult with our partner in this case, the State of Alaska, before reaching any decision regarding our next steps in court. Our efforts to obtain legislative relief remain unabated." Officials with the Department of Law echoed the sentiments of the King Cove community leaders. "We are disappointed the judge didn't make Secretary Jewell go back and take into account public health and safety concerns," Assistant Attorney General Cori Mills wrote in an email to Channel 2 News. "Ultimately, the Secretary's decision failed to address the emergency medical needs that this road would fulfill." Gov. Walker spoke out in support of the road in a statement to the press. "A road from King Cove to the Cold Bay airport is absolutely critical in ensuring the health and safety of King Cove residents in the face of an emergency. This is a message I reiterated to President Obama last week, and one that I will continue to address with federal officials until we find a solution to this important issue."...more

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