Alexander Supports Allowing Oil And Gas Exploration in 2,000 Out of 19 Million Surface Acres In Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Friday, November 10, 2017
Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) on Friday said legislation opening new areas in Alaska to responsible oil and gas development "will help keep energy affordable and increase our nation’s energy security."
He said, “Forty years ago, Congress said that parts of the Coastal Plain—which is a non-wilderness area in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—could be available for oil and gas exploration. This bill would allow responsible drilling in the Coastal Plain—which will be limited to 2,000 surface acres out of the over 19,000,000 acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This increased production can help keep energy affordable throughout the country while increasing our nation’s energy security, generating new revenues, and creating new jobs.”
"In 1980, Congress designated the Coastal Plain—which is less than 8 percent of the over 19 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge—as an area that could be explored for its oil and gas potential. In 1987, the Department of the Interior completed a study of the Coastal Plain and recommended that legislation be adopted to allow for oil and gas development.
"The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources introduced legislation that would only open a very small part of the Coastal Plain to responsible oil and gas development. The proposal would open only 2,000 federal surface acres or just 1/10,000th or .01 percent of the surface area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for development."