Therriault Resolution Warns of ESA Listing if Wood Bison are Introduced into Alaska Wild – ADF&G Project Could Negatively Impact O&G Exploration in Nenana Basin

JUNEAU – Sen. Gene Therriault, R-North Pole, has introduced legislation, SCR 2, which asks Governor Sarah Palin to stop a Department of Fish and Game project aimed at introducing wood bison into Minto Flats and the Nenana Basin. While Therriault is not opposed to the effort to expand the population of an endangered species, he is concerned that turning them loose could trigger protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), restricting or prohibiting oil and gas exploration in the Nenana Basin. The Nenana Basin holds high potential to provide energy for the Fairbanks area and other Interior communities.

“I am certainly in favor of Fish and Game working to increase the population of wood bison, but we have to be very careful of where we introduce them,” Therriault said. “They are not listed in the U.S. as endangered, because there are none of them in the wild. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers them ‘foreign endangered,’ which indicates to me that if they are introduced in the wild in Alaska, they could be endangered.”

Therriault said that, although ADF&G has said his concern is nothing to worry about, he is looking for a concrete commitment from USF&WS that the introduced wood bison would not trigger an ESA listing and all the accompanying restrictions on habitat. He said he would like the introduction of SCR 2 to lead to committee hearings that will allow a clear public record on the issue to be established.

“I believe the professional biologists involved with this project are sincere and well-meaning,” Therriault said. “I also recognize that the introduction of a herd has strong support from sportsmen’s groups, such as Safari Club International and the Alaska Outdoor Council. However, I think we would make a grave mistake to hand over a tool to environmental extremists for them to challenge oil and gas development under the ESA.”

SCR 2 was referred to the Senate Resources Committee.