Presidential Documents

76611 

Federal Register 

Vol. 75, No. 236 

Thursday, December 9, 2010 

Title 3— 

The President 

Proclamation 8613 of December 6, 2010 

50th Anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 

By the President of the United States of America 

A Proclamation 

Our public lands represent the American spirit and reflect our history, 

culture, and deep respect for wild and beautiful places. As we celebrate 

the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Arctic National Wildlife 

Refuge, we remember that this breathtaking terrain holds great significance 

to our Nation. Stretching from the plains of the Arctic Sea to the soaring 

mountains of the Brooks Range and lush boreal forests of the Alaskan 

lowlands, the rugged splendor of the Arctic Refuge is among the most 

profoundly beautiful places in America. 

Following the efforts of visionary conservationists, the Arctic National Wildlife Range was created in 1960 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower ‘‘for 

the purpose of preserving unique wildlife, wilderness, and recreational values.’’ In 1980, under President Jimmy Carter, the area was renamed the 

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and expanded to further recognize and protect the stunning variety of wildlife in the area. For 50 years, the Fish 

and Wildlife Service of the Department of the Interior has managed the 

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, carefully balancing the needs of wildlife 

and their vital habitats. 

In the decades since its establishment, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge 

has continued to be one of our Nation’s most pristine and cherished areas. 

In the decades to come, it should remain a place where wildlife populations, 

from roaming herds of caribou to grizzly bears and wolf packs, continue 

to thrive. The 19.6 million acres that comprise the Arctic Refuge are also 

home to Native American tribes, including the Inupiat and Gwich’in, and 

the resources of the Refuge sustain these populations and protect their 

indigenous traditions and way of life. 

Today, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remains distinct in the American 

landscape, and we must remain committed to making responsible choices 

and ensuring the continued conservation of these wild lands. 

Our Nation’s great outdoors, whether our stunning national parks and refuges 

or cherished green spaces in our local communities, are truly a hallmark 

of our American identity. In commemorating five decades of protection 

and conservation of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, I encourage all 

Americans to recognize the beauty and diversity of all of America’s open 

spaces. We are all stewards and trustees of this land, and we must ensure 

that our treasured wilderness and other natural areas will be part of our 

national heritage for generations to come. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States 

of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution 

and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 6, 2010, 

as the 50th Anniversary of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. I call upon 

all Americans to observe this anniversary with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. 


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76612 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 236 / Thursday, December 9, 2010 / Presidential Documents 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of 

December, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence 

of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. 

[FR Doc. 2010–31127 

Filed 12–8–10; 8:45 am] 

Billing code 3195–W1–P 


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