The debate concerning the fate of the 1.5 million acre coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge continues. The Administration and oil and gas industries continue their campaign to open the refuge to drilling. Conservationists support wilderness designation as the only way to truly safeguard this national treasure. As the only undisturbed Arctic ecosystem in North America, the refuge provides unique habitat for scores of species including polar bears, musk oxen, migratory birds, and the 180,000-strong Porcupine Caribou herd.

Representative Robert Mrazek (D, NY-3) introduced legislation, H.J. Res. 239, to designate the Arctic coastal plain as wilderness. Originally championed as H.R. 39 by Representative Morris Udall (D, AZ-2). Congressman Mrazek's bill was introduced upon Representative Udall's retirement and renamed the Morris K. Udall Wilderness Act in his honor.

The League has included cosponsorship of the Morris K. Udall Wilderness Act as a pro-environment action. H.J. Res. 239 is currently under construction by the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and has 132 cosponsors.