That’s true. Palin talks about that in this column. Most of growth in oil drilling has been on private and state controlled lands. Just think if we ever get a president that opens up the vast federal lands to exploration. I would like to see the states take control of these lands from the federal government.
Another thing to think about. the oil, gas and coal extracted from the federal lands would go a long, long way towards reducing the deficits and national debts.
The fact is with modern drilling technology there would be a tiny footprint in ANWR that wouldn't harm the land or the critters.