Bipartisan Arctic Bill Essential
The legislation would add the 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain to existing wilderness in the refuge, protecting what scientists have described as "the biological heart of the refuge."
"Representatives Markey and Johnson, Senator Lieberman, and all of their co-sponsors want to give Americans a priceless gift for future generations.
Polls unanimously indicate that the American public opposes sacrificing America’s Serengeti for six month’s worth of oil. We believe this public support will enable us to not only stop the current push for drilling but, ultimately, provide permanent protection for this irreplaceable national treasure," said Schlickeisen.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was created by President Eisenhower in 1960. Congress added significantly to the refuge in 1980 and conferred wilderness designation on most of it. Although President Jimmy Carter strongly supported it, the 1980 legislation did not designate the coastal plain of the refuge, sometimes referred to as the "1002 Area," as wilderness.
This bill will complete the protection of the refuge as wilderness. According to Schlickeisen, the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is used year-round by a variety of wildlife, and is irreplaceable habitat for many of these species. In spring, 130,000 caribou migrate to the coast to calve and raise their young. In winter, the area is important for female polar bears, which make ice dens along the coast to give birth to their cubs. Migratory birds from every one of the lower-48 states return to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge every year to nest.
Scientists overwhelmingly agree that oil activities would devastate this unique ecosystem. Only 60 miles west of the Arctic Refuge at Prudhoe Bay and adjacent fields, oil development sprawls more than 1,000 square miles.
According to Alaska’s Department of Environmental Conservation, there are 55 contaminated waste sites already associated with this development and an average of 400 spills each year. Just last week, BP-Amoco’s Prudhoe Bay facilities reported spills totaling 5,000 to 9,700 gallons in two major incidents.
In January, Defenders of Wildlife launched a campaign to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil development, featuring an innovative computer animation and an Internet-based petition drive, all at the web site www.SaveArcticRefuge.org. Visitors to the site can send messages urging protection of the refuge to the White House, their senators, and their member of congress. Schlickeisen noted that the flow of e-mails from this petition has been so heavy that the White House computer system has been overwhelmed and many messages have had to be returned. Schlickeisen said that Defenders will deliver these by hand. To date, Defenders has forwarded more than 700,000 of these e-mail messages to policy makers, making this what appears to be the largest Internet petition campaign ever.
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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 endangered species issues. To stay current on hot topics in wildlife conservation, subscribe to DENlines, Defenders of Wildlife's electronic update and action alert network.
Contact(s):
Cat Lazaroff, (202) 772-3270