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Oil
Drilling in Alaska Becomes Focus Of Political and Environmental
Debate |
Posted:
03.23.05
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As the price of gas goes up, environmentalists and oil industry
advocates are butting heads over plans to begin oil exploration
in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a federally protected
region that sits atop an estimated 10.4 billion barrels of oil.
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Members of the U.S. Senate last week struck down a proposal banning
oil exploration in the coastal region of the Arctic  National
Wildlife Refuge, a remote area of land in northern Alaska that
serves as a haven to animal and plant species and is believed
to house billions of barrels of oil beneath its surface.
The vote, which angered many environmentalists, was a victory
for President Bush who has pushed to open the area to drilling
as part of his plan to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
In addition to providing heat in millions of American homes, oil
is processed into the gas that fuels millions of cars.
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A national
refuge |
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The refuge known as ANWR, was created in 1960 by President Dwight
D. Eisenhower who placed the land and its wildlife under federal
protection. The area, mostly frozen tundra, lies north of the
Arctic Circle and is home to more than 45 species of land and
marine mammals. Millions of migratory birds nest along its coastal
plains, and polar bears, grizzly bears, moose and caribou roam
free. The refuge also houses a tribe of 220 Native Alaskans.
Environmentalists refer to the region as "North America's
Serengeti," after the fertile plains of East Africa where
thousands of animal species travel during an annual migration.
But ANWR also sits above one of the countries largest untapped
oil reserves, according to government geologists. In 1998, the
U.S. Geological Survey, the government agency that studies natural
resources, estimated that the region could contain about 10.4
billion barrels of undeveloped oil.
The argument over whether to begin looking for that oil has pitted
oil industry advocates against environmentalists who argue that
introducing oil pipelines, drilling platforms and other exploration
equipment could harm the land and its inhabitants.
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The possibility
of black gold |
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According to the mostly Republicans who voted to allow drilling
in ANWR, the amount of oil present in the region could have a
significant impact on U.S. oil production. American oil companies
currently produce 2.1 billion barrels of oil a year, mostly from
Alaska, California and Texas. However, that output is only 30
percent of total U.S. consumption - 7 billion barrels a year.
The remaining oil is imported from countries in the Middle East
and Africa. Unrest in that region and skyrocketing oil prices
have left U.S. companies demanding other alternatives.
 "ANWR,
with the potential for 1 million barrels of oil a day, will be
the most significant onshore production capacity of any onshore
area in the United States," said New Mexico Republican Sen.
Pete Domenici.
President Bush has argued that opening part of the refuge to
drilling could benefit the economy in several ways, especially
as oil prices -- and thus gas prices -- have hit record highs
recently.
"Developing a small section of ANWR would not only create
thousands of new jobs, but it would eventually reduce our dependence
on foreign oil by up to a million barrels of oil a day,"
the president said.
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Opposition
to drilling |
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The Sierra Club, a nonprofit environmental group, has argued
that even if American companies were allowed to drill oil from
ANWR, the small amount they would get, would not benefit consumers.
"With only 5 percent of the world's population, the U.S.
consumes 26 percent of the world's oil," the organization
reported.
 "At
its peak of production, Arctic Refuge oil could supply perhaps
1 percent of America's energy needs at any given time -- not enough
to put a dent in our dependence on foreign oil."
The organization has called on President Bush to revise his energy
plan to include other sources of energy.
"Our nation needs a comprehensive energy policy based on
conservation, alternative energy sources, and improved efficiency
standards -- such as making our cars go farther on a gallon of
gas."
If the government does allow companies to begin drilling in the
refuge, it could take up to 12 years for oil to reach the market.
--
Compiled by Kristina Nwazota for NewsHour Extra
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