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AK Senate Unanimous On ANWR ResolutionState Senate asks Congress to block wilderness designation for ANWR
Could the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge be locked up forever to drilling and development? Some lawmakers say that's a strong possibility, as officials with U.S. Fish and Wildlife move closer to making recommendations on whether or not ANWR should be a wilderness designation.
All 20 members of the state Senate voted earlier today for House joint resolution 11. Resolutions are not laws, but lawmakers say they hope Congress hears their message loud and clear: Keep 1.5 million acres of ANWR open for development
“We're making a strong stand today,” said Sen. Lesil McGuire (R-Anchorage).
Stat senators took a unanimous legislative stance today with a resolution.
“We are urging the United States Congress to reject any legislation that would seek to declare a wilderness designation of the 1002 area of ANWR,” McGuire said.
That area was set aside for oil exploration, but U.S. Fish and Wildlife could make a recommendation under its Comprehensive Conservation Plan to stop any development there. “This is a battle,” said Sen. Charlie Huggins (R-Wasilla). “This is a battle of the people of Alaska against a activist federal government led by some people who are not in the best interest of us.”
“This would be devastating at a time right now when we're looking at what we've seen in Libya,” said McGuire.
As the price of oil continues to climb as tensions escalate in the Middle East and North Africa, Alaska lawmakers say all options must remain open, including ANWR.
“It is an area that is important to America,” McGuire said. “(Federal wilderness designation) would permanently lock up that area and throw away the key for any future development. That area holds 10.4 billion barrels of oil that we know of.”
A spokesperson for U.S. Fish and Wildlife said it is possible that the federal agency could recommend later this spring that the 1002 area of ANWR could be designated wilderness.
But Bruce Woods says anything the agency recommends will go through a public comment period first. The final say goes to the Department of the Interior, then Congress and the President. |
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P.A.Miller said on Thursday, Mar 17 at 4:51 PM
Does 2000 = 1,500,000 in Juneau Now? Guess big oil doesn't want people to look at any math. The Coastal Plain "1002 area" of the Arctic Refuge is over 1.5 MILLION acres, and they are proposing to open the entire area to leasing and development. What kind of math are they doing down in Juneau.
62949971Gee said on Saturday, Mar 19 at 7:58 PM
looking at the math that makes them rich! The system has trained the locals to roll over and play dead.
63070667Canada Scores said on Saturday, Mar 19 at 8:00 PM
How much does it cost your soul to destroy the United States? When your from another country, not very much.
63070736Big Dog Soldotna said on Thursday, Apr 14 at 9:21 AM
I have to Ask why are People from other countries and States trying to tell us what to do in our State they dont live here nor do they have anything to do with this state I have done the math and i am not paid by the oil co. the only thing makeing to oil co. rich is the high price of oil. you need it you buy it you are makeing them rich. if you buy 5gal or 50gal they are making money let us get more for our money. the area WE want to drill is is nothing more then a sute filled sand bar comeon people if you have not been there and do not live in this state Butt out. maybe WE need to come to your State and tell you not to build that houseing complex on that street. As for the plan it is simple build in a tie in line from AWNR to the pipe line and use the line that is there. least amount of impac and gets the job done. and We are back into making a living in this State and all others for that matter. Alaska has been put on the backburner to long. Alaska Love it or Leave it GOD BLESS
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