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Issues & Hot Topics - ANWR
Senators Murkowski, Stevens and Domenici and a group of Alaskans from the North Slope talk about the benefits of opening ANWR
Senators Murkowski, Stevens and Domenici and a group of Alaskans from the North Slope talk about the benefits of opening ANWR

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Murkowski and White House Counsel James Connaughton on the ground in ANWR
Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman, Sen. John Thune (R-SD), Sen. Murkowski and White House Counsel James Connaughton on the ground in ANWR
ANWR
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) encompasses 19 million acres in the Northeast corner of Alaska, north of the Arctic Circle. The area is comparable to Prudhoe Bay, currently North America's largest oil field, in geography. Studies of the area indicate that between 6 and 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil exist in the 2,000 acres that would actually be used for oil extraction. This means that ANWR could provide the United State with a reliable supply of oil for another 30 to 50 years.

Many Alaskans support opening ANWR for drilling, seeing the benefits it will have for our state and nation. Even a majority of the residents living in Kaktovik, a native village located near ANWR, support drilling in the area. The United States must take a balanced approach to lessening our dependence on unstable foreign energy sources, and environmentally responsible exploration in the Coastal Plain should be part of that approach.

I share the concern for the protection of Alaska's natural environment. It is one of Alaska's greatest attributes, and I intend to fight for responsible development that respects our environment and fosters growth in our economy. Today's advanced technologies are less invasive than ever, barely impacting the surrounding environment and wildlife. We have also invested millions of dollars into research on the wildlife living in ANWR to develop a better understanding of the Arctic's ecosystem. Research has revealed that production and preservation can co-exist. For example, in Prudhoe Bay the Central Arctic caribou herd has grown from 3,000 to as many as 27,100 over the past 20 years. Drilling would also be limited to winter months since the presence of wildlife on the coastal plain decreases. All measures will be taken to ensure a safe and clean exploration of the area.

Development of ANWR could not come at a more apt time. Opening the Refuge would save almost $20 billion a year from the cost of foreign oil imports and help lessen our dependence on foreign oil. This past April prices broke $57 for the first time. Many of us have experienced first hand the all time high price of crude oil. Prices this high affect more than U.S. international relations and economic stability. They affect average American consumers who need gas to commute, power their homes, or provide employment. While opening ANWR is not the perfection solution to all our energy needs, it will certainly ease our current situation and provide security for the future.
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