18/03/2005 — WWF is confident
that plans to drill for oil in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) will not take
place, despite a decision in support of drilling
by the United States Senate.
On Wednesday March 16th, the US Senate voted
by a razor-thin margin to take the first step
towards drilling for oil in the ANWR. While
disappointed with the result of the vote,
WWF was keen to underline the narrow margin
of victory.
A bipartisan group of senators had attempted
to safeguard the ANWR, the native people and
wildlife that depend on it. However, in the
end 51 to 49 Senators voted against the amendment
to strip Arctic drilling revenues from the
budget resolution.
The ANWR is located in the US state of Alaska,
covering 19 million acres, and home to 45
types of mammal, including polar bears and
caribou, and 180 species of bird. The oil
potential is estimated at 16 billion barrels.
"It is important to note that the budget
resolution does not have the force of law,”
said Randall Snodgrass, Director of Government
Relations at WWF-US. “It is merely the first
step in the budget process that can lead to
the enactment of legislation.”
“This battle is far from over," he added.
"The majority of the American people
are overwhelmingly opposed to drilling in
the Arctic Refuge. We are confident that Congress
will ultimately listen to them and protect
this national treasure."
The Senate now has to vote on the budget
resolution but the final step is for approval
by Congress. Congress has not successfully
passed a budget bill in recent years.
WWF-US has launched a conservation action
alert, asking its activists to urge their
representatives to keep Arctic drilling out
of the House budget resolution. It is also
calling on representatives and senators to
co-sponsor legislation designating the coastal
plain of the refuge a federal wilderness.
