The White House Council on Environmental Quality today highlighted CEQ Chair Brenda Mallory’s visit to Alaska as an effort to showcase Biden administration actions under the infrastructure law and America the Beautiful (30×30) conservation initiative to address fish and wildlife conservation (including through support for Pacific salmon recovery), climate resilience and restoration, tribal investments and support for indigenous knowledge and incorporation of tribal conservation priorities into 30×30, and local economic growth.
In referencing Mallory’s meeting with the Bristol Bay Native Corporation to address their efforts to create permanent protections in Bristol Bay, CEQ noted EPA’s recent action to prohibit and restrict the use of certain Bristol Bay waters as disposal sites for discharging dredged or fill material associated with the Pebble mine.
Her visit included stops at Kenai Fjords National Park, Exit Glacier, Coast Guard Base Kodiak, the North Pacific Regional Fisheries Training Center, Cook Inlet, Juneau, Angoon, and remarks at the Second General Assembly of the National Congress of American Indians.
In May, Mallory travelled to New Mexico, where in addition to highlighting environmental justice, climate, and conservation and restoration-related investments under the infrastructure law, drew attention to conservation efforts under the 30×30 initiative.
During a visit to the Valle De Oro National Wildlife Refuge, Mallory talked about how actions under 30×30 will improve access to nature and underscored the importance of locally-led and community-driven restoration actions. Mallory also highlighted 30×30 in remarks at the Conservation Lands Foundation’s 2022 Friends Summit.
