Arctic Advocates Call Vote "Dead End"

House Vote on Arctic Refuge Drilling Unlikely to Clear Senate

(04/10/2003) - WASHINGTON - Noting the Senate's solid opposition to opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling, conservationists said today's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives was more likely to derail the entire energy bill again than to result in completed legislation opening the Refuge.

"Though we'd rather have won this vote, the big picture is that the House leadership is driving the energy bill full throttle down a dead end street," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. "Arctic drilling is dead on arrival in the Senate."

Last month, a bipartisan majority in the Senate rejected Arctic Refuge drilling, for the second time in less than a year. Drilling backers face an even higher hurdle if opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is included in omnibus energy legislation, as several senators have promised to filibuster any legislation that includes oil exploitation in the Refuge.

"Drilling in the Refuge really has no place in this Energy Bill. This country needs serious steps to reduce our reliance on oil that will kick in as soon as possible, not pie-in-the-sky plans to wreck one of the wildest places left in America for just six months worth of oil that won't be available for a decade," Schlickeisen said. "Unfortunately, the House leadership appears more interested in doing expensive favors in this bill for their energy industry contributors than addressing the real challenges this country faces."

Schlickeisen pointed to a recent poll that shows public support for protecting the Refuge remains steady, with 62% versus 30% opposing oil drilling there.

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Defenders of Wildlife is a leading nonprofit conservation organization recognized as one of the nation's most progressive advocates for wildlife and its habitat. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, Defenders of Wildlife is an effective leader on environmental issues. For timely information on environmental issues, visit www.defenders.org and subscribe to DENLines, a free e-mail alert newsletter.

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Contact(s):

Brad DeVries, (202) 772-0237