Sunday, December 9, 2007

Oil Drilling in Alaska

The Arctic National Wildlife Range (ANWR) was established in 1960 to protect the "unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values" of the area. This area has grown since 1960 and today, the ANWR encompasses nearly 20 million acres, which is about the size of South Carolina.

In March 2006, the U.S. Senate passed its 2007 Budget Resolution, which included a provision for lease sales of the right to drill for oil in region of the Arctic National Wildlife (ANWR) in Alaska. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the income generated from lease sales could top $4.2 billion in the next five years. The same act authorized the study of the oil and gas potential of the northern part of the Refuge, called the 1002 Area. This region is now being looked at as a possible oil-development site, but environmental groups say that any oil production would upset the natural ecosystem within the ANWR. A 1998 analysis conducted by the United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that there are about 7 billion barrels of profitable oil in the 1002 Area alone, but the price of crude-oil determines how profitable that oil is.

By releasing a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) in August 2007, the federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has renewed its attempt to drill for oil in the Arctic. No alternative was presented in the draft. Despite overwhelming opposition from scientists, local communities, the Wildlife Society, and the general public, this sensitive and important wildlife habitat is being put in jeopardy. The government claims that the drilling will not harm healthy populations of waterfowl and caribou. But many believe this is not supported by sound science.

Right now, much of the land in the Northeast Reserve that has oil potential is already available for leasing. In fact, 3.8 million acres have already been leased for oil and gas drilling and are actively being explored. For now, the Teshekpuk Lake area is the only part of the northeast Reserve that remains closed to drilling. This lake area is one of the most important wetlands to Alaska and BLM’s complicated leasing plan will degrade critical wildlife habitats. However, the analysis released presently attempts to satisfy the court and allow leasing and drilling to move ahead. The environmentalists continue to fight the oil drilling plan for this area saying there is no new science justifying the decision. It has been an on-going battle.

The government has been trying to lease the Teshekpuk Lake area to the oil industry for years. The oil companies like Triple Diamond Energy Corporation know that they have to keep providing the nation with energy resources so that we can claim independence from foreign supplies.

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