Posted on 01/21/2005 3:50:55 PM PST by The Loan Arranger
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.
The NPRA, which was created in 1923 specifically to have access to oil if needed, is not to be confused with the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge farther to the east, which has been the focus of intense debate in Congress over oil development.
The Fish and Wildlife Service, which like the BLM is part of the Interior Department, has said the area around Lake Teshekpuk in the northeast corner of the NPRA is among the most important molting areas in the entire Arctic for wild geese. It is also used for calving and insect relief by herds of caribou.
The BLM, however, has concluded that more than 400,000 acres surrounding Lake Teshekpuk should be opened for exploratory drilling with restrictions. The government estimates the area contains about 2 billion barrels of economically recoverable oil and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews1.iwon.com ...
Your dad lives in Alaska? Cool.
Perhaps you can confirm something for me: is it true that residents get a percentage of the state surplus? I had someone tell me that their cousin has gold that she got from the state.
Those fruit cakes are such dirt bags, they probably think saying the word "OIL" causes environmental disasters.
Last year each qualifying person was paid $919.84.
Families receive payment for adults and children each.
http://www.pfd.state.ak.us/
The fund is approaching $30 Billion in value.
Excellent!
Beware of doing business with this guy, he's pretty much an idiot, or at least clueless.
Finally, a bit of good news from the jackasses in dc.
You know it's there, just drill it.
That certainly explains why Alaskans are open to the expansion of exploration and drilling. Bully for them.
The state would benefit; the citizens would benefit; the country would benefit; and, if I understand the reports, the caribou would benefit. Sounds like a win-win.
For all their talk of progressiveness, liberals are incredibly short sighted.
I'm listening to you...
First Alaska, then........
**FILE PHOTO** The rolling tundra of the Alaskan North Slope are shown in this undated aerial photo. The U.S. government plans to open thousands of acres for exploratory drilling after the Bureau of Land Management (news - web sites) 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. (AP Photo/Bureau of Land Management)
Nossir, no bias in that report.
Dan
I wonder why they didn't go ahead and finish the thought:
"...on Alaska's North Slope that have been protected for decades because of migratory birds and caribou which are now going to die."
Great pictures!
;-D
Good to see you!
NRPA is the area my projects are expanding into.
NRPA is the area my projects are expanding into.
Are you going to go up?
CD5, CD6 and CD7 have also gone through the eviromental approval, they show as the 3 green triangles west of Alpine and into NPRA. CD5 has begun preliminary engineering. Exploration drilling in the Northeast Planning Area of the NPRA has been going on for years. We are just now getting ready to produce.
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