Ramifications
Mike Gravel, meanwhile, took considerable blame in Alaska for forcing Carter's hand with the Antiquities Act. Though Carter was hardly held blameless for the creation of the new national monuments, Gravel was taken to task for the unpopular decision as well and was denied his party's nomination for his Senate seat in the 1980 election.
With the passage of time, however, and now, several decades later, support for the vision of ANILCA has increased, even among former detractors in Alaska -- as the spectacular parks, monuments, refuges and other areas set aside by the 1980 legislation have become a significant boon to Alaska tourism and the State's economy.
Read more about this topic: Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act