ANWR: ‘This Year Is Different’

‘A Longtime Republican Priority,’ ‘Extremely Important For Alaska’

“The Republicans' tax package would …open Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling … Opening the remote Arctic refuge to oil and gas drilling is a longtime Republican priority … The Arctic refuge has been the focus of a political fight for nearly four decades.” (“Tax Bill Boosts Oil, Gas Drilling And Renewable Energy,” The Associated Press, 12/15/2017)

• “The provision will green-light energy exploration only in a 1.5 million-acre swath of ANWR known as the ‘1002 area,’ which lies along the coast. In total, ANWR spans more than 19 million acres, and the vast majority of the refuge will remain untouched by energy companies.” (“Drilling In Section Of ANWR Included In Final GOP Tax-Reform Package,” The Washington Times, 12/17/2017)

• “… opening the area to drilling is expected to generate $1 billion over 10 years for the government, qualifying the measure to be added to the bill.” (“How Arctic Drilling, Stymied for Decades, Made Surprise Return in Tax Bill,” The New York Times, 12/09/2017)

LIZ RUSKIN, NPR: “It's really quite incredible because, for years, the Alaska delegation has … relentlessly fought for it.” (“Tax Bill Would Open Alaska Wildlife Refuge To Drilling,” NPR, 12/17/2017)

“‘It has been extremely important for Alaska senators for a very long time, and they have always been exasperated by the Lower 48 dictating to them on this,’ Mr. McConnell, the Kentucky Republican and majority leader, said of the Arctic drilling issue.” (“How Arctic Drilling, Stymied For Decades, Made Surprise Return In Tax Bill,” The New York Times, 12/10/2017)

• “Most congressional Republicans support the drilling plan, including veteran Alaska Rep. Don Young, one of the plan's negotiators. Young called drilling ‘crucially important to the nation’ and said it would decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil and create jobs for Alaskans.” (“Tax Bill Boosts Oil, Gas Drilling And Renewable Energy,” The Associated Press, 12/15/2017)

‘Potential Oil And Gas Development… Requires An Act Of Congress’

“Congressional Republicans have long pushed to allow energy exploration in a 1.5 million-acre section of the Alaskan refuge, known as the ‘1002 area,’ where billions of barrels of oil lie beneath the coastal plain. The 19.6-million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was created under former President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1960. In 1980, Congress provided additional protections to the refuge but set aside the 1002 area for future drilling if lawmakers approved it. Democrats have managed to block those efforts over fears that drilling would harm … animals like polar bears, caribou, and arctic foxes.” (“Lisa Murkowski Offers Bill Aiming To Raise $1 Billion By Opening Arctic Wildlife Refuge To Drilling,” Washington Examiner, 11/9/2017)

• “In 1980, with the passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, Congress expanded ANWR but opted not to give wilderness status to the 1002 Area, setting it aside for potential oil and gas development. Granting leases for that purpose, however, requires an act of Congress.” (“Lisa Murkowski Introduces Bill To Open Arctic Wildlife Refuge To Oil Drilling,” Huffington Post, 11/9/2017)

• “Since the 1980's, the congressional delegation from Alaska… has sought to open a section of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling. … Folded into the budget bill being considered by the Senate this week is a provision endorsed by Murkowski meant to open a piece of the 19-million-acre refuge to energy development.” (“The Energy 202,” The Washington Post’s ‘PowerPost’, 10/20/2017)

“Congressional backers of the drilling, including Mr. Stevens and Ms. Murkowski’s father, Frank, a former senator, had come excruciatingly close to triumph in the past, only to have their hopes dashed at the last minute. In 1995, the proposal reached the desk of President Bill Clinton, who vetoed it. In 2005, it appeared to have a strong chance again, since it was a priority of the Bush administration. But it was scuttled in the House when about two dozen moderate Republicans informed their leaders that they would not support a budget bill with the drilling included. Mr. Stevens then tried to add it to a Pentagon measure but was stymied, leaving him fuming on the floor while wearing an Incredible Hulk tie he sported for major fights. … But this year is different.” (“How Arctic Drilling, Stymied For Decades, Made Surprise Return In Tax Bill,” The New York Times, 12/10/2017)

• “As another fevered push to open the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to energy exploration collapsed on the Senate floor in December 2005, Ted Stevens, then the powerful and wily Republican senator from Alaska, declared it ‘the saddest day of my life.’ At that moment, it looked as though the decades-long fight over drilling in 1.5 million acres of the remote refuge could finally be at an end.” (“How Arctic Drilling, Stymied For Decades, Made Surprise Return In Tax Bill,” The New York Times, 12/10/2017)