Arctic Slope Regional Corporation Files Motion to Intervene in Polar Bear Lawsuit

Business Wire,  July 3, 2008  

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BARROW, Alaska -- On behalf of its ISupiat Alaska Native shareholders, Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC) filed a request to intervene in the polar bear lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. If the motion to intervene is allowed, ASRC will be heard on all procedural and substantive issues in the case, thus ensuring that concerns for the corporation and its shareholders will be addressed. The motion to intervene was filed on July 3, 2008.

"ASRC shareholders are the indigenous people of Alaska's North Slope and share the same environment with the polar bears," said Tara Sweeney, ASRC Vice President of External Affairs. "Any decisions made in response to the polar bear suit will directly impact the communities of many ASRC shareholders. Our lives, food, income, heritage, culture, and community are all tied to the resolution of these issues."

The decision by ASRC to intervene in this lawsuit was made by the ASRC Senior Leadership Team, with support from the ASRC Board of Directors.

While the corporation is concerned about climate change, the action taken by the environmental industry could circumvent the legislative process and appears to be an effort to address the global issue of climate change through restrictions on arctic activities which have not caused climate change or had a measurable effect on polar bears. Importantly, the result of this federal listing and litigation could be focused almost exclusively on Alaska Natives whose activities do not threaten polar bear population levels. This lawsuit could have a dire effect on every resource and economic development project on the North Slope of Alaska, and could impact the rest of the country in a variety of ways.

"The potential reach of this case extends well beyond our home on Alaska's North Slope. Every industry in America that produces carbon emissions could potentially be affected by this suit. From power-plants in Ohio to small refineries in Wyoming, the decisions made on polar bears today could have a profound impact on the US economy." Sweeney further stated, "While we recognize the need to defend our backyard, it is important for Americans to realize how this will impact their daily lives too."

About ASRC

Arctic Slope Regional Corporation is an Alaska Native regional corporation, established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, and represents approximately 10,000 ISupiat shareholders. Corporate headquarters are based in Barrow, Alaska, with administrative and subsidiary offices located in Anchorage and throughout the United States. ASRC, along with its family of companies, is the largest Alaska Native-owned company, employing over 6000 people worldwide. The company has four major business segments: petroleum refining and marketing, government technical services, energy services and construction industries.

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