Issue Position: Energy/INEEL - ANWR

Issue Position

Any discussion surrounding expanded energy exploration in Alaska must begin with a brief explanation of the history surrounding ANWR, otherwise known as the Section 1002 area of Alaska. For two decades, Congress has placed special consideration upon this area because of its potential for significant oil and gas reserves. In 1980, Congress passed the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act - or ANILCA. In addition to setting aside over 100 million acres of Alaska for National Parks, Refuges, and Wilderness, the ANILCA legislation specifically left open the future management of a 1.5 million-acre area on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - the Section 1002 area (ANWR). The legislation also required the Department of Interior to undertake geological and biological studies of the Section 1002 area and report back to Congress.

After more than five years of conducting these studies, the Department of Interior, in 1987, recommended to Congress that the Section 1002 area be made available for oil and gas exploration and production, and that it be done in an environmentally sound manner.

Congress has responded to this recommendation a number of times since receiving it from the Department of Interior. In fact, both Houses of Congress passed an authorization for oil and gas leasing in the Section 1002 area as part of the 1995 budget reconciliation legislation, which was eventually vetoed by President Clinton.

In 1998, the U.S. Geological Survey produced an assessment of estimated in-place oil resources reaffirming previous studies that showed the tremendous potential of the Section 1002 area. In fact, it showed that Section 1002 contains as much as 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil - enough to offset 30 years worth of Saudi Arabian imports. Clearly, this area has great potential for easing the growing vulnerability we have to oil supply disruptions abroad.

Today, as a result of increasing prices for oil and decreasing domestic oil and gas production, we find ourselves again debating some decades-old questions. Do we move forward in an environmentally sound manner to develop domestic oil and gas reserves, or do we ask other nations to produce oil for us without similar environmental safeguards? Do we keep American jobs and investments inside our borders, or do we ship our jobs and industries to foreign nations? Do we increase our energy and national security while we have a chance to do so, or do we run around the world begging friend and foe alike to increase oil production every time we have an oil supply disruption? For me, the answer is relatively simple.

I think it is important to note that no one is suggesting we turn the Section 1002 area over to oil companies and then walk away forever. If we are going to allow oil and gas exploration and production, it will be done in an environmentally sound manner and with proper consideration for the needs of fish and wildlife populations.

Should we move forward with oil and gas exploration in the Section 1002 area, Congress will direct the Secretary of Interior to issue regulations that protect fish and wildlife, their habitat, subsistence resources, and the environment of the Coastal Plain of Alaska. Congress will provide the Secretary with the authority to close areas of the Coastal Plain, on a seasonal basis, to protect caribou calving and other fish and wildlife species. Congress will also require those obtaining federal leases to comply with federal and state environmental laws, reclaim leased lands to the condition in which they were found, and ensure the protection of fish, wildlife, and the environment. To ensure these actions are done, the Secretary would be allowed to require bonds to any lands and surface waters affected and conduct semi-annual inspections of every facility to ensure compliance with all environmental regulations.

Those are just some of the reasons why I believe we can, and should, look to ANWR as one part of a comprehensive effort to lessen our reliance on foreign oil and increase our nation's energy security.

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