Tuesday, November 25, 2003
Alaska, one way or another
The Bush administration intends to open 8.8 million acres of Alaska's North Slope to development of oil and gas, including areas considered environmentally sensitive.
The Interior Department was to announce the oil and gas leasing plan Friday, the day the Senate was taking a critical vote on a massive energy bill endorsed by President Bush but denying him his top energy priority, opening an Alaskan wildlife refuge to drilling.
None of the 8.8 million acres are in the wildlife refuge, but they do include some sensitive areas in Alaska that are important for the protection of migratory birds, whales and wildlife.
Geologists believe the 22.5 million acres in the government's National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska may contain 6 billion to 13 billion barrels of oil. But it is widely scattered and costlier to develop than in the wildlife refuge.
More.
posted by chris at 10:36 PM
------------------
|
