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| Wilson introduces measure to restrict Alaskan oil drilling |
August 01, 2001 |
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WASHINGTON - An amendment tacked onto a House energy bill by Rep. Heather Wilson, an Albuquerque Republican, would severely restrict the areas open for oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.
Debate on the amendment was expected to start today.
The amendment, introduced by Wilson and Rep. John E. Sununu, a New Hampshire Republican, late Tuesday night, would restrict drilling for oil to an area of only 2,000 acres on ANWR.
The energy bill now contains no provision to limit drilling along the 1.5 million-acre coastal plain.
"I wanted to make sure we had a balanced approach, not only in the bill itself, but also in Alaska," Wilson said. "We`re going to push the limits of technology for environmentally sensitive oil production."
The energy bill has drawn fire from Democrats and environmentalists because of a provision that would open oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. About 5 billion to 16 billion barrels of petroleum are believed to be beneath the refuge`s surface.
The measure also includes $33.5 billion in tax incentives for oil, coal and nuclear energy companies and would require SUVs made between 2004 and 2010 to be more fuel-efficient. Members of Congress are saying the bill would become country`s first national energy policy in 30 years.
A second amendment to the energy bill, also submitted by Wilson and Sununu, calls for the Department of Treasury to set up two trust funds for the royalties obtained by the federal government from new oil and gas production in ANWR. According to the bill, titled the Securing America`s Future Energy Act, half of royalties from ANWR would go to Alaska and the other to the U.S. government`s general fund. One trust fund would be used for conservation in Alaska and across the country for urban parks, wildlife refuges and maintaining national parks. The other trust fund would be used for renewable technology research and development.
"It sharply limits any impact in Alaska, allows production of oil from Alaska, and uses those revenues to preserve the land we love," Wilson said of the amendment.
The House could vote on the energy bill as soon as tonight. If approved, it then must pass the Senate and go to a conference committee before reaching President Bush.
"We`re intending to pass the bill (in the House) tonight," Wilson said this afternoon. |
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