It's been a year of significant changes to federal lands in the U.S. Numerous public lands have been opened to various mining operations, including those adjacent to Utah's national parks . Now, a national wildlife refuge in Alaska has been opened to oil drilling, and it could permanently impact the visitor experience.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which covers more than 19 million acres in northeastern Alaska, is the latest public land with loosening restrictions. The U.S. Department of the Interior, which oversees public lands, announced plans to open the refuge up to oil drilling along the coastline.

The proposal would affect nearly two million acres of land within the wildlife refuge, and would likely have lasting impacts on the native plant and animal life that people vis

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