Posted on 12/23/2004 7:50:56 PM PST by MissouriConservative
WASHINGTON--Environmental groups warned Congress on Tuesday with poll numbers that claim a majority of Americans oppose oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Zogby International, a polling firm hired by the groups, said 55 percent of Americans said "no" when asked whether oil companies should be allowed to drill in ANWR.
"Congress should take notice of these numbers," stated Jim Waltman, director of refuges and wildlife programs at The Wilderness Society, in a news release. "Members of Congress need to ask themselves, 'Whose side am I on? Am I on the side of the oil companies? Or do I side with the majority of Americans who want the Arctic refuge protected?'"
Congress begins a new session Jan. 4. Alaska's members have said they hope to change the law next year to allow drilling in the 1.5 million-acre ANWR coastal plain.
Kevin Hand, executive director of the pro-drilling group Arctic Power, said it's difficult to read much into polls such as that commissioned by the environmental groups. Arctic Power hasn't done any recent polling, but past efforts have found that 55 percent of Americans aren't even sure what ANWR is, he said.
"They mostly know the bumper sticker items--'six months of oil, we're going to rape and pillage the caribou'--that sort of thing," he said. "But when the average American is informed on the issue, they definitely support (drilling) and we have polls that reflect that."
Hand wouldn't offer a detailed critique of the Zogby poll, but said some of the questions seemed leading.
The ANWR questions were part of a more lengthy Zogby poll, on which the environmental groups piggybacked. The firm queried 1,200 people by telephone.
The first ANWR-related question was the eighth in the poll, according to an analysis released by Zogby.
Previous questions were not released and Pete Rafle, spokesman for The Wilderness Society, said he did not know what they were.
The eighth question was multiple choice, asking participants to name "the best way to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil." Forty-one percent said expand wind, solar and ethanol while relying less on petroleum. Thirty-nine percent said conserve more and develop more fuel-efficient cars. Seventeen percent said drill for more oil and gas "including areas within wildlife refuges."
The next question, again multiple choice, asked, "Do you think oil companies should be allowed to drill for oil in America's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?" Fifty-five percent said do not allow drilling, 38 percent said allow it and 7 percent were not sure.
After that, Zogby pollsters read participants two statements summarizing ANWR arguments. The pro-drilling statement, with which 31 percent agreed, quoted no authority but stated foreign oil contributes to high prices and ANWR oil could reduce those.
The anti-drilling statement, a third longer, quotes the U.S. Department of Energy saying not enough oil exists in ANWR to change prices and quotes oil companies saying it would take a decade to develop. Fifty-nine percent agreed.
Ten percent were either not sure or disagreed with both statements.
The next question asked participants to agree or disagree in varying degrees to the assertion that, "Congress is spending too much time trying to open (ANWR) to oil drilling as a payback to the oil companies for their campaign contributions, instead of focusing their attention on more important issues like keeping us safe, providing affordable health care and strengthening the economy."
Overall, 65 percent agreed and 27 percent disagreed, with 9 percent unsure.
Rafle defended the language.
"We work pretty hard to make sure that we're doing this as even-handedly as we can and use the arguments that each side is using," he said.
"There are lots of things that you ask in polls where you're looking to refine the way you talk about issues," he said. But the "bottom line" is that the "current poll finds a solid majority of Americans would like the refuge to stay the way it is."
Lexi Keogh, spokeswoman for the Alaska Wilderness League in Washington, D.C., said the poll results match earlier, independent polls, including a November 2002 poll by CBS News.
"The numbers are almost exactly the same," she said.
ANWR was originally designated the Arctic National Wildlife Range in 1960. In 1980, Congress expanded its southern and western boundaries and set aside the coastal plain for study of its wilderness values and petroleum potential.
The U.S. Geological Survey in 1998 said the federal land in the ANWR coastal plain would produce, as a mean estimate, about 5.2 billion barrels of oil at prices of $26.20. The Alaska Department of Revenue said this month that the oil could add $500 million a year to the state's income by 2024, assuming royalties are split 50-50 with the federal government.
A Department of the Interior biological review in 2002 concluded the most likely development scenario, with disturbance limited to the oil-rich western part of the plain, would cut June caribou calf survival by an average of about 1 percent.
Critics of that analysis said the negative effects on caribou could extend well beyond June if oil work displaces the cows and calves, which tend to avoid roads and pipelines, from the coastal areas of the western plains where they often go in mid-summer to escape biting insects.
BTT!!!!!
Of course, Alaskans want to drill! These are oil people at heart and they understand that drilling does not destroy the landscape---and it pumps up the economy!
No, you idiot (referring to the guy who is quoted), we should disband the oil companies right now and go back to the stone age.
I doubt the polls are accurate given the subject matter. Zogby targets the audience he feels will respond in concert with the poll outcome.
I think the poll question would more likely read "The majority of Democrats are against drilling in ANWAR."
Most Americans could care less about ANWAR and the vast majority would never visit the area anyhow regardless of it's alleged protected status.
I would think people would learn after just suffering through record oil prices. But how much of the price was speculative over the election outcome? Strange that after the election and a Bush victory oil prices have fallen considerably. Was someone in the oil industry trying to sabotage a Bush victory?? We need to be asking that question!!!
Sigh... A shame the environmentalist are not interested in facts. Like the past effect North Slope Oil production has had on the caribou herd.
The Central Arctic Herd also increased during the 1970s and 1980s from 6,000 in 1978 to 23,400 in 1982. Rapid growth stopped in the late 1980s, however, and the herd now appears stable at around 32,000 animals.
Sounds to me like a good name for a terrorist.
I guess that's possible. Maybe Americans don't know that we drill in the Everglades national park without any environmental catastrophes. Or maybe most Americans don't know that crude oil seeps from the ocean floor under the Atlantic.
On second thought, I don't believe the poll.
5.56mm
Did they also ask about NPR-A? Air traffic to NPR-A is heavy these days. Anybody with an opinion on ANWR has to have an opinion on NPR-A. It's automatic since they are similar.
ANWR Caribou tastes like spotted owl (which tastes delicious) ummm... yummy !
This winter's drilling plan includes going to the southern edge of Teshekpuk Lake. NPRA drill is proceeding the enviromental impact study was given final approval, with some minor modifications to CD-3, 4, 5, 6 & 7. The Record of Decision by the Corps of Engineers was passed for CD-3 and CD-4. Alpine is going to continue to be the North Slope Hot Spot for some time.
What do the Akaskans want? Everyone else should have NO say!!
DRILL!!!!!
DRILL
Who gives a damn about some area where no-one goes anyway.
Screw those damned eco nuts.
Akaskans?
ANWR is Federal land. Nobody has a say except the giant Committees in DC.
So,Mr. Zogby-why don't you run a new poll, to determine if the dodo's you questioned, have any idea just what the hell ANWR is in the first place, and if so, why are they so determined to keep this country dependent upon people who want us dead and our country extinct, for the life blood of our industry?
Ask them if they know the difference between drill, as in marching, drill as in sowing seed, fire drill, drill as in baboon, drill as in strong twilled cotton fabric.
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