How much have the Democrats cost you at the pump?

[GaryC 7]

Arctic Refuge drilling controversy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The question of whether to allow drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been a political football for every sitting American president since Jimmy Carter. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is just east of Prudhoe Bay in Alaska's "North Slope," which is North America's largest oil field. Currently, the Prudhoe bay area accounts for 17% of U.S. domestic oil production.[1] In 1987 and again in 1998 studies released by the U.S. Geological Survey have estimated significant deposits of crude oil exist within the land designated as the "1002 area" of ANWR, as well.[2][3][3]

Oil interest in the region goes back to the late 1960s. Since the 1979 energy crisis, the question of whether to drill for oil has become a hot-button issue for various groups. Most Alaskan residents, trade unions, and several business interests have supported drilling in the refuge, while environmental groups and many within the Democratic Party have traditionally opposed it. Among native Alaskan tribes, support is mixed.

In the 1990s and 2000s, votes about the status of the refuge occurred repeatedly in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, but as of 2007 efforts to allow drilling have always been ultimately thwarted by filibusters, amendments, or vetoes.

History

1987-1999

In 1987, Canada and the U.S. signed the Agreement on the Conservation of the Porcupine Caribou Herd treaty which was designed to protect the herd and its habitat from damage or disruptions in migration routes. Canada's Ivvavik National Park and Vuntut National Park borders the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Energy Bill authorized drilling in ANWR, but a filibuster by Senate Democrats kept the measure from coming to a vote. In 1995, Republicans prepared to take up the battle again and included a provision for ANWR in the federal budget. President Bill Clinton vetoed the entire budget and expressed his intention to veto any other bill that would open ANWR to drilling.

The 1998 U.S. Geological Survey report did little to end the controversy. It estimated that there was significant oil in ANWR and that most of the oil would be found in the western part of the "1002 Area". This differed from the 1987 USGS report which estimated that less oil would be found there and that it would be in the southern and eastern parts.[3]

Beyond that reserves existed, however, little was agreed upon by both sides of the debate. Supporters of the drilling claimed there were as many as 16 billion barrels (2,500,000,000 m³) of oil to be recovered,[citation needed] but this number was at the extreme high side of the report and represented only a 5 percent probability of technically recoverable oil across the entire assessment area, which included land outside ANWR. Opponents of drilling pointed out that the USGS report actually estimated 7.668 billion barrels (1,219,100,000 m³) of oil to be recovered.[3]

Environmentalists pressed U.S. President Clinton to declare the Arctic Refuge a U.S. National Monument. Doing so would have banned drilling within the refuge. While Clinton did create several refuge monuments, most at the very end of his tenure, the Arctic Refuge was not on the list.

2000-present

In December 2000, a Coast Guard report charged Alyeska with repeated safety violations at a Valdez terminal, causing prices to jump again. The administration of U.S. President George W. Bush pushed to perform exploratory drilling for oil and gas in and around the refuge. The House of Representatives voted in mid-2000 to allow drilling. In April 2002, the Senate rejected it.

Arctic Refuge drilling was again approved by the House of Representatives as part of the Energy Bill on April 21, 2005,[7] but the Arctic Refuge provision was later removed by the House-Senate conference committee. The Senate passed Arctic Refuge drilling on March 16, 2005 as part of the federal budget resolution for fiscal year 2006.[8] That Arctic Refuge provision was removed during the reconciliation process, due to Democrats in the House of Representatives who signed a letter stating they would oppose any version of the budget that had Arctic Refuge drilling in it.[9]

On December 15, 2005, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK) attached an Arctic Refuge drilling amendment to the annual defense appropriations bill. A group of Democratic Senators led a successful filibustering of the bill on December 21, 2005, and the language was subsequently removed from the bill.[10]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Refuge...ing_controversy

[joelunchbox 0]

Amazingly enough, Alaska is not Saudi Arabia. One is built to expressly export oil. the other is a frozen tundra with multiple obstacles to moving its product to market. Yes, a million barrels is a million barrels but the cost of bringing that to market does affect its effect on price.

[Heracles 417]

Hey have you guys thought about solar panels?

Ask Steven for more info..

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Of course. There we come out of a decade or so of Republican majorities in the Congress, nearing the end of the second term of a Republican President and the high gas prices are, you guessed it, the Democrat's fault. Frankly, that's just an idiotic argument to make. It's interesting how those that preach personal responsibility are so reluctant to actually accept any. Quite typical for the Do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do party aka the GOP.

Typical. Clinton was the one that made Alaska off limits. The dem controlled congress shot down any attempts to open the area up. The reps tried to open those areas up and met with so much resistance from the dems in the form of filibusters they couldn't get it through. This is all on the door steps of the environmentalists and the dems whether you like it or not. But I am sure you will continue to deny it regardless of the facts. It's what your side does best.

So, the Republicans can't get anything done and that's the Democrats fault. The Democrats don't deliver, it's the Democrats fault. In short, anything and everything is the Democrats fault. Always. The Republicans are always right. You're hilarious, Gary. You really are.

Edited May 23, 2008 by Mr. Big Dog

[VisaJourneyLady 33]

Gary do you never tire of putting up this cr@p? Doesn't it get boring to have your mind so thoroughly made up and fully closed?

[Heracles 417]

So, the Republicans can't get anything done and that's the Democrats fault. The Democrats don't deliver, it's the Democrats fault. In short, anything and everything is the Democrats fault. Always. The Republicans are always right. You're hilarious, Gary. You really are.

Come on dude. The democrats are in charge now and have been so for a while now. It is not as if they were elected yesterday.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Outback Mountain - the Unspoken Chronicles of Crocodile Dundee and His Faithful Companion, Ben Dover.

[Sister Fracas 5]

We could also look at new technology and alternative fuel sources too.

Shhh...that's crazy talk. Drilling in ANWAR is going to save us from our relentless appetite for oil.

Sorry. I'll go hug a tree now.

[Heracles 417]

Outback Mountain - the Unspoken Chronicles of Crocodile Dundee and His Faithful Companion, Ben Dover.

They must be trying to figure out where to install the solar panels.

Have you ever thought about programming Sim City solar panel installation edition?

Edited May 23, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Outback Mountain - the Unspoken Chronicles of Crocodile Dundee and His Faithful Companion, Ben Dover.

They must be trying to figure out where to install the solar panels.

Have you ever thought about programming Sim City solar panel installation edition?

Dont worry Boo, Steve has always been fixated on homosexuals. This was a great oppurtunity to post more gay stuff. I think he has a big library of photo chopped gay movie star pics that he likes to look at.

[HAL 9000 96]

We could also look at new technology and alternative fuel sources too.

Shhh...that's crazy talk. Drilling in ANWAR is going to save us from our relentless appetite for oil.

Sorry. I'll go hug a tree now.

Yes its stfu and ignore reality. Priceless

[Heracles 417]

Yes its stfu and ignore reality. Priceless

Maybe one of those great scientists in Chicago I always here about can whip up an alternative fuel for those of us who are ignoring reality.

Edited May 23, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[HAL 9000 96]

Yes its stfu and ignore reality. Priceless

Maybe one of those great scientists in Chicago I always here about can whip up an alternative fuel for those of us who are ignoring reality.

Perhaps. A team of those great scientists back in the 40s developed the first lab-controlled nuclear chain reaction here so you never know.

[Heracles 417]

Perhaps. A team of those great scientists back in the 40s developed the first lab-controlled nuclear chain reaction here so you never know.

lol. Those types of scientists are long goooooone from Chicaaaaaago. And replaced with Jeremiah Wrights and co..

Edit: If only we could convert the trash Wright speaks into fuel. It would certainly be more than enough to power the East coast..

Edited May 23, 2008 by Boo-Yah!

[HAL 9000 96]

Perhaps. A team of those great scientists back in the 40s developed the first lab-controlled nuclear chain reaction here so you never know.

lol. Those types of scientists are long goooooone from Chicaaaaaago.

Nice 'pronunciation'. Luckily there are plenty others here as well as elsewhere. Like you'd know... unless your special friends in special places have passed special info to you about special Chicago scientists...