state of Alaska
Should we drill for oil and natural gas in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The Arctic is no place for oil and gas drilling
, and this site is not far from one of America's last wild places—the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Why we should drill for oil?
Environmental Benefits
Oil drilling
reduces the pressure of oil reservoirs underground, which greatly reduces the amount of hydrocarbon seepage – and the amount of methane gas in the atmosphere
. Scientists theorize that increased drilling operations could continue to benefit aquatic and atmospheric conditions.
Why are they drilling in the Arctic?
Allowing drilling in the Arctic Ocean would
add new environmental stressors – from pollution, to noise and other forms of disturbance – to marine wildlife that are already feeling the brunt of warming sea and air temperatures
.
What is special about ANWR?
ANWR is
rich in fauna and flora and also has significant oil and natural gas potential
. Energy development in the Refuge has been debated for more than 50 years. On December 20, 2017, President Trump signed into law P.L. 115-97, which provides for an oil and gas program on ANWR's Coastal Plain.
How do Alaskans feel about drilling in ANWR?
A Zogby International Poll conducted on December 21, 2004, found that
55 percent of the public is against drilling in the refuge, compared with 38 percent who back it
.
What are the economic benefits of opening ANWR to oil exploration?
Opening a small portion of ANWR to energy production could create tens of thousands of American jobs and contribute to
significant economic growth
. In addition, development is estimated to bring in between $150 billion and $296 billion in new federal revenue.
How would drilling in ANWR affect the environment?
The agency estimates that drilling in ANWR could yield between 1.5 billion and 10 billion barrels of oil, which would
increase emissions between 0.7 and 5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide
. The high end is about 12% of Alaska's annual emissions.
Do you think oil drilling should be permitted in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Why or why not?
The glaring problem with drilling in the Arctic is its effect on our planet.
Carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels is already disrupting our climate and the health of our oceans, putting our human and natural systems in peril.
Why is drilling important?
Drilling is becoming an increasingly important tool
for environmental protection and remediation
. Drilling is a relatively noninvasive method for investigating and removing chemical and radioactive wastes from the subsurface, and for placing barriers in the subsurface to halt the spread of contamination.
Why is drilling important in mining?
Drilling activities at mine sites are very diverse and are used for two main purposes,
exploration which aims to obtain very detailed information about the formations below ground surface and production to facilitate the labors of ore extraction
.
What is the purpose of drilling in mining?
Drilling is the process of penetrating through the ground and extracting rocks from various depths beneath the surface for
confirming the geology beneath and/or providing samples for chemical analysis
.
Why do oil companies want to drill in the Arctic?
There's no climate-safe future that involves drilling in the Arctic Ocean. It's the only way
to prevent a devastating spill and end our dependence on fossil fuels
.
Why we should not drill for oil in the ANWR?
Oil development would bring roads, airstrips, heavy machinery, noise and pollution
. This would damage the refuge's fragile tundra ecosystem and disrupt age-old migration and denning patterns for caribou, polar bears and other animals.
What are the environmental concerns with opening ANWR to oil exploration?
Democrats, native tribes in the area and environmental groups have long opposed the government's plan to open the refuge to oil and gas drilling, arguing that
it will not only cause an increase in greenhouse gas emissions but also lead to spills and fragment important wildlife habitat
.
Why is ANWR controversial?
Much of the debate over whether to drill in the 1002 area of ANWR rests on the amount of economically recoverable oil, as it relates to world oil markets, weighed against the potential harm oil exploration might have upon the natural wildlife, in particular the calving ground of the Porcupine caribou.
Should the United States drill for oil in Alaska's wilderness?
Drilling will also increase oil revenues for the state of Alaska , which is a huge benefit
. And drilling oil in ANWR could possibly lower gas prices at the pump. Americans pay a lot of money for gas and for that price to be lowered, even by a little bit, it would be very beneficial.
How is the ANWR protected?
The Coastal Plain and surrounding areas were federally protected
through an order issued by the Secretary of the Interior in 1960
“for the purpose of preserving unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values” of the area.
What does the ANWR stand for?
Acronym. Definition. ANWR.
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
(Alaska, USA)
How many jobs would ANWR create?
Studies have shown ANWR job creation ranging from
55,000 to 130,000
jobs.
How much oil is in the ANWR?
Technically recoverable oil within the ANWR 1002 area (excluding State and Native areas) is estimated to be
between 4.3 and 11.8 billion barrels
(95- and 5-percent probability range), with a mean value of 7.7 billion barrels (table 1).
Should the Arctic be exploited for oil?
Why it matters. The Arctic's shallow and biologically productive seas are also rich with oil reserves. But
oil exploration poses a tremendous risk to vulnerable Arctic ecosystems and communities
. Oil and gas development could also damage fisheries, tourism and other, more sustainable economic activities.
