Markey Speaks Out on National Wildlife Refuge Week

Markey speaks out on national Wildlife Refuge Week

Washington, D.C. - Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democrat on the House Resources Committee and the Energy and Commerce Committee, released the following statement in recognition of National Wildlife Refuge Week (October 10-16).

"America's Wildlife Refuges are unique national treasures," said Rep. Markey, "They are the only public lands set aside for the protection of wildlife habitat, and they are under attack from the Bush Administration. President Bush has insistently pushed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge - the last 5% of the Alaskan North Slope protected from oil development - as a solution to America's energy problem. Unfortunately, with only 3% of world oil supplies, America can't drill out of this problem. It would be morally wrong to destroy the pristine wilderness of the Arctic Refuge for a few months of oil."

"Our refuges are struggling under a number of threats," continued Rep. Markey. "A new report by the Defenders of Wildlife, Refuges at Risks, details the myriad threats facing refuges today. A year ago, I released a report by the General Accountability Office (GAO) that outlined the inadequacy of management and oversight of oil and gas activities on our National Wildlife Refuges. Even after promising at a Resources subcommittee hearing in April, the Bush Administration has done nothing to correct this threat. Just like oil and water, oil and refuges don't mix.

But the administration is unwilling to protect the last few places set aside for wildlife from the incompatibility of oil
production on wildlife refuges."