Alaska Senators Again Introduce Legislation to Allow Drilling for Oil and Gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

摘要

On 3/13/08 the two U.S. Senators from Alaska, Ted Stevens (R) and Lisa Murkowski (R), again introduced legislation (S. 2758) to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas exploration and production. The American Energy Independence and Security Act of 2008 would authorize the exploration, leasing, development, production, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the coastal plain in Alaska. If passed, which seems unlikely, the bill would automatically open 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain in the 19-million-acre ANWR to "prudent" oil exploration and development if the world price of oil reaches 125/barrel for five days. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.