Government to Allow Oil Exploration in Ecologically Sensitive Alaska Area

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBM8O2X84E.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - Citing a need for domestic energy, the government plans to open for exploratory drilling thousands of acres on Alaska's North Slope that have been protected for decades because of migratory birds and caribou.

The Bureau of Land Management has concluded that oil and gas exploration in the northeastern corner of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska can be conducted with "minimal impact" on the area's wildlife.

While most of the 22 million-acre reserve is open to oil development, its lake-pocked northeastern corner has been fenced off, dating back to the Reagan administration, because of environmental concerns. That area also is viewed as having the highest oil and gas potential within the reserve.

Interior Secretary Gale Norton is expected to sign off on the BLM's recommendation next week, said a department official, speaking on condition of anonymity because a final action has not been announced.

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[leftchick]

1. didn't take long. Less than a day...

imagine the destruction in the next four years! :(

[SomewhereOutThere424]

22. All the more reason...

People need to stand up and start fighting this and stop putting hope in animal groups who, although with a great cause, arenot doing anything in terms of succeeding against these crimes. People say that non alaskans shouldn't butt into alaska's business, but I don't think they even know how to handle what they have. They publically voted out aerial gunning of wolves (mind you, breaking the FAHA treaty, but that's a different other bush related sad story), and when murkowski went and allowed it anyway their public outrage became 'meh' and just let them walk all over them.

I dunno how, but if this nation's environment and security is going to be protected, I think it needs to be from the american peoples' voices, and not exxon or this administration. My grandfather was a head manager at exxon during that whole thing and the guy's a friggen rotten jerk, now a drunkard. I don't think people like that should be deciding our country, and regardless of people saying we shouldn't get involved in other states' battles, they're gonna effect the whole of this country one state at a time...

Is it really possible for anything to be done at this point? I hope someone out there knows a good answer. Related to a guy who was so money hungry he helped the first terrible oilspills there (exxon), I really hope there's more out there with the knowledge of those horrible days who stand up to it. I don't want to see another disaster like that and sadly I don't think it's avoidable :(

[illflem]

2. "Minimal impact" is rapidly

becoming a thing of the past now that global climate change is causing vast areas of the Artic's permafrost to thaw out. When it thaws any vehicle traffic makes a long term big mess.

[stevedeshazer]

3. Exactly. Such a project requires roads.

Gumbo city. Hope they're bringing their hip waders.

[kuozzman]

4. New need for domestic evergy?

We just took over the country with the 2nd largest oil reserves in the world!

Isn't Iraq considered domestic now?

[Deja Q]

5. What 'need'?

Another 'Friends' DVD?

[Goldeneye]

6. WTF?

That's our land, not the gov't or their corporate cronies land. I can't believe we have no power to stop this.

Minimal damage my ass.

[leesa]

7. Well, they pretty much have no choice now since Bush has destroyed ALL

HOPE of contracting with any oil-rich nation.

[Skink]

8. Note to Japan. Step up production of Hydrogen powered vehicle

move up Euro launch of said vehicle. Watch U.S. fall behind in new technology.

[Earth_First]

17. Is it wrong of me to support this?

[Solon]

19. Let's see...

A total of a Year and a half or so of oil is in ANWR total, and that is optimistic estimates, and at current levels of consumption. Plus, we won't see a drop of that for what, a decade or so. This is corporate welfare, plain and simple, and at best it will destroy pristine wilderness for pure greed.

[DeepModem Mom]

9. kick

[Bo]

10. THESE FOOLISH THINGS.....

[qanda]

11. kick

:kick:

Just heard about this and I think it is such a shame.

[cascadiance]

12. How soon before Bush sells back the off-shore oil drilling...

... rights in Florida that he spent our taxpayer money on as an "environmentalist president" right before his brother got reelected governor there? After all, does Jeb need to be reelected again if he's going to run for president instead? Won't be any need to "protect" Florida's environment any more then will there?

[Megahurtz]

13. Oh no!!!.......

oil drinking greedy bastards!!!:grr:

[roguevalley]

14. you scar this land and it takes about two hundred years to recover

god help us all. kiss the animals good by

[zann725]

24. And if we drill the wrong way, another Earthquake and Tsunami!

These Repugs are SOOOO irresponsible.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

15. Oil's this administration's main concern

That's why they're brandishing sabers over Iran's supposed nuclear weapons. Forget North Korea. There's no oil there.

[Betty]

16. Not a word about conservation

such as imroving mileage on the cars we have to save more oil than they could ever hope to find in Alaska... not to mention it would be years before any of this oil actually made it to the market.

[PROUDNWLIBERAL]

18. North Slope Oil Promise

When they went to open the North Slope oil they said that all that oil would go to the U.S. market. Just a few years ago they changed their tune and now about half the oil is going overseas. what a pack of thieves!

[rodeodance]

20. "dig and driil" is the WH mentality instead of investing in alt. energy

[teryang]

21. Gale Norton is a crook n/t

[struggle4progress]

23. kick

[fooj]

25. I live by the beach and walk along its shore often...

I can't tell you how many times in the last few months I've thought about these monsters destroying our beautiful country and its wildlife for greed, money and power. It sickens me.