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Wildlands & Wildlife:
Remove Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Drilling from Energy Bill

Our Position: support
Bill Number: H.AMDT.72 to HR6
Sponsor: Edward Markey (D-MA)
Legislative Session: 2005

Representative Ed Markey (D-MA) sought to remove a provision that allows drilling in the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from HR 6 - the misguided National Energy Policy Act. A majority of American people continue to oppose drilling in the Arctic Refuge.

The Arctic Refuge is home to a vast array of wildlife including wolves, grizzly bears, migratory birds and a 140,000 member caribou herd. However, for decades the oil industry and its allies in Congress have targeted the sensitive coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for oil and gas drilling. They're using the nation's current gas price crisis to forward their efforts, under the guise of national security. The truth is, the speculative amount of oil that could be had from the coastal plain would not put a dent in our dependence on foreign oil, would do nothing to strengthen our national security, and would not save consumers a dime.  Even the oil industry admits it would take ten years to make it to US markets. Should development occur in the Arctic Refuge, the impacts would be permanent and have devastating impacts on the wildlife - thus threatening the subsistence way of life for indigenous people living in the area.

Status

The amendment to HR 6 failed with a vote of 200-231 on April 20, 2005.