Open AccessSenate hearing reviews Alaska refuge oil reserves
Author(s) -
Showstack Randy
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/98eo00278
Subject(s) - wildlife refuge , canyon , wilderness , wildlife , hydroelectricity , geography , arctic , recreation , critical habitat , environmental impact statement , environmental protection , habitat , archaeology , fishery , environmental impact assessment , endangered species , oceanography , geology , ecology , law , political science , cartography , biology
To some conservationists concerned about wildlife habitat and wilderness beauty, the “1002 area” of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is “sacrosanct.” Adam Kolton of the Alaska Wilderness League says, “Drilling the Arctic refuge would be as shortsighted as damming the Grand Canyon for hydroelectric power or raiding Yellowstone for geothermal power.” But others say this 1.5 million acre coastal plain region of ANWR—named for the section in the 1980 Alaska National Interests Lands Conservation Act that deferred a decision about the future management of the area—holds significant, economically recoverable oil deposits, and that three‐dimensional seismic testing and subsequent oil extraction can be accomplished with little environmental damage to the region.