Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Saved!

On April 18, 2002, in what has been billed by some as "the culmination of the biggest environmental debate in 20 years," the Senate voted decisively to reject amendments to its energy bill and keep the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge free from oil drilling.

The vote was 46 for to 54 against the drilling plan. There were 45 Democrats, 8 Republicans, and one independent who opposed the bill. Hundreds of thousands of Americans voiced their defense of this wilderness, even in the face of post-9/11 concerns that our national security depended on the drilling.

The facts are that there is only an estimated six month supply of oil there (at our current rate of consumption) and that it would not be available for as long as ten years from now. The amount of oil accessible in the refuge is unlikely to make any difference to America's oil dependence, or to her national security, and yet allowing the drilling would undermine the whole concept of a wildlife refuge.

The refuge is safe for now. But, as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) points out, a bill approving Arctic drilling was passed by the House, and now the Senate and House versions of the energy bill must be reconciled. Pro-oil congressmen have vowed to continue to attach Arctic drilling amendments to other legislation. The preservation of the integrity of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not yet assured.

For more information about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge see NRDC's Biogems.