Energy Production
in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) |
Energy production in Alaska's Northern
Coastal Plain will reduce America's dependence on undependable
foreign sources; create new jobs here in America; is supported
by labor unions, farm groups and others in a bipartisan coalition;
and will be enforced with the toughest environmental rules ever
applied.
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No more than 2,000 acres out of the
19 million acre refuge will be utilized for energy production.
The best environmental technology and American ingenuity will
be required for exploration and development. Exploration will
be limited to the winter months between November and May to
protect wildlife. Ice roads and airstrips will protect sensitive
tundra. Strict rules will be mandated to protect streams, rivers,
springs, and wetlands.
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The U.S. Geological Survey estimates
that ANWR contains a mean expected value of 10.4 billion barrels
of technically recoverable oil. The oil potential of the 1002
area equals the reserves of California, Oregon, Washington,
Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, North and
South Dakota combined.
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The U.S. House of Representatives
has endorsed the environmentally-responsible development of
ANWR twice. The U.S. Senate has been opposed to the development
in this area. The Energy Bill is in a joint House/Senate commerce
committee and DOI is looking forward to its conclusion.
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News Releases on ANWR: |
03/12/2003 |
ANWR
Oil Reserves Greater than any State |
03/12/2003 |
Testimony
by Secretary Gale A. Norton Before House Committee on Resources |
03/11/2003 |
Central
Caribou herd grows to record numbers on Alaska's North Slope |