| Arctic Oil Drilling Halted | 24 November 05 |
 The ongoing debate, that started when it was first protected 25 years ago, over opening Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to the oil industry has come to a head. Republicans dropped the ANWR drilling provision from a budget bill before the US House of Representatives, but the drama on Capitol Hill could heat up again. Earlier, the Senate approved a version of the budget bill that included ANWR drilling. But opposition from moderate Republicans prevented the bill from passing through the House with the ANWR provision included. "It was the kind of showdown at high noon that restores one's faith both in democracy and the sanctity of America's natural heritage," said Natural Resources Defense Council President John Adams. "Just one year ago, Washington insiders were saying that Arctic drilling was a done deal." President Bush has long insisted oil from ANWR is critical as America moves toward oil independence. But ExxonMobil CEO Lee Raymond says the concept of energy independence is unrealistic, and "a flawed notion when considering strategic priorities for the United States." A joint House-Senate conference committee will now draft a measure to take back to their respective chambers. Proponents of ANWR drilling may try to reintroduce the measure at that stage. The joint bill is expected in December. The US House of Representatives has passed authorization five times in various forms that would allow drilling in the refuge, but each time the measure has died in the Senate. View the Map of ANWR (PDF) View the November 10, 2005 Washington Post article View the November 15, 2005 Guardian article View the November 10, 2005 NRDC President John Adams' comments View the 2005 ExxonMobil CEO, Lee Raymond interview View the CBC feature - INDEPTH: OIL Oil and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Sources: Washington Post, NRDC, The Guardian, ExxonMobil |
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