Aleutians East Borough -- Welcome to the Aleutians East Borough

Aleutians East Borough

Akutan, Cold Bay, False Pass, King Cove, Nelson Lagoon, Sand Point

Welcome to the Aleutians East Borough

Stretching from the tip of the Alaska Peninsula to the easternmost Aleutian Islands, the Aleutians East Borough is like no other place on earth.

This is a wild, dramatic region bordered on one side by the North Pacific Ocean and the other by the Bering Sea. It has been home to generations of Aleut families since the Second Ice Age.

Today, the region is renowned for its breathtaking beauty, warm, generous people and the rich diversity of seafood found in the waters around it.

News

Recent Grumman Goose Collision Adds to Concerns Surrounding Akutan’s Looming Transportation Access Problem

Akutan, AK – April 17, 2008 – The Mayor of Akutan and Aleutians East Borough officials are concerned that Akutan’s transportation options are diminishing following a recent commercial airplane collision on Unalaska’s runway.

“We used to have three commercial Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft serving the Akutan area. Last summer, one plane that is part of the Grumman Goose fleet ended up with a broken wing, so that aircraft was taken out of commission,” said Akutan Mayor Joe Bereskin. “Now after this recent accident, we’re down to one amphibious aircraft serving Akutan. Having only one operating Goose puts everyone in an awkward and precarious position. If something happens to this Goose, Akutan is without air transportation, period. The health and welfare of our 859 citizens are at risk. That’s a great concern to us”.

King Cove, AK – April 15, 2008 – Legislation proposing a massive land exchange between the State of Alaska, the King Cove Corporation and the federal government in return for a small, narrow road corridor, is scheduled for a hearing today in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R) Alaska, who co-sponsored the bill, will provide introductory statements. The president of the King Cove Corporation and member of the Agdaagux Tribal Council, Della Trumble, an Aleut (Alaska Native) born and raised in King Cove, will testify at the hearing.

"We are blocked from the construction of a road from our village to the Cold Bay airport, the third largest airport in the State of Alaska," said Trumble. "That means when medical emergencies occur during poor weather, King Cove residents have to risk their lives to try to help someone get out of King Cove to the Cold Bay airport so they won't suffer and possibly die. We are blocked by a wilderness area, the Izembek Wilderness, which Congress and this Committee created. That is why we have come to this committee today to ask that S. 1680 be passed."

King Cove, AK – April 10, 2008 – Legislation proposing an unprecedented land exchange between the State of Alaska, the King Cove Corporation and the federal government is scheduled for a hearing in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee at 2:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 (in room 366 of the Senate Dirksen Building). The Izembek Enhancement Act (S. 1680) proposes increasing the size of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge by more than 61,000 acres. Forty-five thousand acres would become new wilderness. In exchange, the State of Alaska would get a 206-acre easement for a 7-mile single-lane gravel road to connect the isolated community of King Cove to the Alaska’s third largest airstrip, located 25 miles away in Cold Bay. The road would generally follow the routes of existing military roads within the refuge dating back to World War II during the Aleutians Campaign.

“Since 1980, the people of King Cove have been seeking a solution to this access problem,” said Ernest Weiss, King Cove Mayor. “It has caused a lot of heartache. When poor weather prevents travel by air or boat, transporting people out of the community for essential medical care is absolutely impossible. This legislation will solve that problem. At the same time, the federal government is gaining a tremendous amount of valuable wilderness land to add to the refuge. It’s beneficial for everyone concerned.”

King Cove, AK – April 2, 2008 - The Aleutians East Borough has decided to continue the hovercraft hiatus through April 12, 2008. The following day, abbreviated operations will resume, with one round trip, three days per week (Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday) between King Cove and Cold Bay.

“We have the utmost confidence in the hovercraft and its crew,” said Aleutians East Borough Administrator Bob Juettner, “but it is taking a little longer to develop a new operating plan and to re-fund the project than we had originally thought.”

Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 3:25 PM

Anchorage, AK - March 19, 2008 - Approximately 200 people attended the North Aleutian Basin Fisheries/Energy Workshop earlier this week in Anchorage to discuss what steps would be needed if gas & oil are developed in Lease Sale 214, adjacent to Nelson Lagoon. Those attending the conference included fishermen, community leaders, tribal members, scientists, government officials, environmental groups and representatives from energy companies. The goal of the workshop was to bring various groups together to discuss a variety of viewpoints and continue a dialogue that began last October.

“There are billions of dollars at stake in existing fisheries and billions of dollars at stake in potential oil and gas development,” said Mark Hamilton, president of the University of Alaska and the workshop’s keynote speaker. “Today, we learn about each other as equal participants. Let’s start this conference with the thought, I have much to learn.”

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