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The Honorable Frank Murkowski
United States Senator
SH-322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510-0202
Dear Senator Murkowski,
Thank you for your letter of June 13, with attached maps, concerning the issue of oil and gas development in the calving grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd. As you know, Canada remains committed to protecting the herd, and we expect the United States to provide the same level of protection to the caribou herd and their habitat, as required in the 1987 Canada-United States Agreement on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd.
Canada protects these areas in the northern Yukon with the Ivvavik and Vuntut National Parks, even though mineral and energy assessments indicated there is a strong potential for oil and gas in the area. There is no existing or planned resource development in the Canadian caribou calving grounds. Two exploratory wells (referred to in your letter of June 13th) were drilled in the eastern end of this area in the early 1970's, before the significance and sensitivity of the region were understood. Those areas have since been permanently protected from further development. All other wells in the region are outside the calving area.
You note in your letter that the herd does not always calve in the 1002 area. However, wildlife biologists in both Canada and the United States have identified the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as the optimum calving and post-calving habitat for these caribou. The herd attempts to reach this area each year. If unable to reach the coastal plain, the herd suffers significant loss of numbers. Indeed, this ultimate destination is so significant that cows which have calved before reaching the coastal plain continue their journey, with their calves, to the Alaska coastal plain.
The message of the Gwich'in to our government has been the same over the years: they wish to protect the herd. We support them in this effort.
Please rest assured that my government is keenly aware of your views on this issue. I have ensured that your June 13th letter has been forwarded to the policy makers in Ottawa responsible for both environmental policy and northern energy development. I have also copied this letter to those on the distribution list of your letter.
Canada supports sustainable development that respects the environment in habitats that are not critical to wildlife. For many years, Canada and the U.S. have successfully cooperated on energy resource development to our mutual benefit. We can continue to do so in full confidence that we can address issues both of reliable supply and environmental protection.
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