Arctic Oil Search Moves to New Turf, New Controversies

[chlamor]

Arctic oil search moves to new turf, new controversies
By Yereth Rosen | Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – One is a long-protected portion of Arctic Alaska where a vast freshwater lake is edged by marshes that draw migrating birds from as far as Mexico and Russia. The other is a national wildlife refuge straddling the Arctic Circle, a watery haven for moose, furry mammals, and waterfowl.

But underneath both lie what may be some of the largest untapped pools of onshore oil and natural gas in the US. As a result, the two sites represent one of the next crucial frontiers in the nation's expanding energy wars.

In many respects, the fight quietly emerging over the two areas - Teshekpuk Lake and the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge - parallels the protracted battle over the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). It is energy versus the environment, with elements of caribou and molting birds and native American culture mixed in.

<snip>

Teshekpuk, meaning "big enclosed coastal water," is Alaska's third-largest lake. It and its nearby wetlands draw huge flocks of birds each summer, there to shed their feathers and fatten up. Most notable are the Pacific black brant: Nearly 30 percent of the geese head to Teshekpuk for their annual molt.

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0516/p01s03-ussc.html

[rodeodance]

1. energy (bush/cheney) vs the enviroment (??)--seems to be more than

a bit unbalanced fight. but i am proud that it took them years to get an inch.

[struggle4progress]

2. kick

[Erika]

3. We're selling 7% of Alaska North Slope oil to Asia now

That's more than we have in our national reserve. Why doesn't Bush and Congress address this?