The public was invited to submit written and or oral comments to the Service on their thoughts of the use of the Refuge and how it should be used in the future.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service ANWR office in Fairbanks Alaska will now review all the comments and formulate a draft CCP report that will be released to the public early next year.  There will then be a second public comment period followed by the final CCP being written and formally submitted to the Secretary of Interior Salazar in April 2012.  The CCP does not have the force of law and is only a recommendation to the government on land usage. 

During the CCP the State of Alaska raised many questions of the public comments because the USFWS stated that any comments on the use of the 10-02 Area of ANWR would be ignored.  The reason the Service stated was due to the fact that under the ANILCA law that set up ANWR in 1980 only Congress can decide the fate of the 10-02.  The USFWS would however consider the biology and ecological health of the 10-02 and if it deems its purpose to fit into “wilderness” land status with the drafting of a “Wilderness and Wild River Review” section of the CCP.  The State of Alaska argues that the CCP must consider all uses of the land by law of ANILCA section 10-03 and is considering legal action against the USFWS to re-convene the public comment period and consider all comments on the 10-02’s future status.  A vast majority of all comments given in public at the CCP meetings were about the 10-02 oil and gas controversy.

The issue of the 10-02 Area of ANWR has now over 30 years of history of battle since the Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) created it. It is easily the single most contentious and legislated energy issue in American history.  Currently 17 bills are active in Congress dealing with the issue.  The environmental community has used the issue extensively as their cause célèbre over the past 20 years adding to the delay in solution.  The people and government of Alaska overwhelmingly support development in the 10-02 and have not waivered on the issue in its history.  However, because the issue is a federal one, decided on Capitol Hill, it is not up to the State to decide.  The US Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Dept. of Interior which regulates all national lands for the government only provides guidance in forming and enforcement of land use laws.  Congress must decide the issue by passage of legislation which, depending on its decision will be implemented by the USFWS, and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in allowing or not the exploration of oil and gas.