Photo:  Leif Erickson narrating film about 1974 at Arctic Gas' test facility, Prudhoe Bay. Here, he was describing how the buried, refrigerated line would cross the Arctic National Wildlife Range.  Original environmental research proved that the pipeline could be constructed and operated within the Range in an environmentally acceptable way.  Since then, the 'Range' designation changed to 'Refuge'.  Any ANWR oil development would be restricted to a much smaller area than would have been affected by the environmentally acceptable gas pipeline work.  Construction would occur in winter months when migrating species are not present.  This page is included since so many gas pipeline issues relate to ANWR and to help counter emotional rhetoric and myth disinformation so prevalent in today's media reports.  Also, more gas may be discovered in ANWR to support northern gas pipelines' throughput, and North America's energy needs.  -dh 

Table of Contents: Click Subject or Scroll Down

See: Educator's Logic, ADN Compass (Useful Alaska Land Facts)

See: Juneau Empire's Refuge of Riches

See: Arctic Power Web Page and Links

(NEW FEATURE: ALASKANS LIVING WITH WILDLIFE: PHOTOS FROM READERS--WORTH THOUSANDS OF WORDS ('Photo' button, left); AND Courtesy of the 'Bucket Brigade', See Congressional Record Statements Re: The Environmental Movement and uses of environmental contributions; AND the new, Alaska Inc. Magazine has produced one of the best 'ANWR Myth' articles we've seen)

1. Facts. 2.  CURRENT NEWS, News: 2002, Editorial: 2002; and 2001 3. Government. 4. Industry. 5. Advocacy.  6. out of date....  7.  Federal Legislation.  8. North Slope O & G.  9. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Maps. 10. ANWR History, Oil and Conservation Values. 

1.  Facts. 

1.  What is ANWR and what are the issues (Map)?  At 19 million acres, ANWR is larger than 10 other states.  Of the total acreage, only 1.5 million acres on the Coastal Plain is being considered.  Of that, only a small percent of acreage would be affected and then only with rigorous controls.  The caribou calve there in the spring, some years.  Similar herds at Prudhoe Bay have grown in size since oil production began due in part to enhanced wildlife protection and environmental benefits caused by availability of gravel pads, elevated above mosquito infested muskeg (Note: 1970-era population of Prudhoe Bay's Central Arctic Caribou Herd: 3,000; year 2000 population: 27,000.  1998 ANWR area Porcupine Caribou Herd population: 129,000).  Exploration would occur in the winter months, when the animals are not present.  ANWR could produce oil equal to 30 years of Saudi imports and contribute to a reduction of the national debt.

• Senator Murkowski's "Fact or Fiction" Video.
• The Controversy and Its Proponents. 
• ANWR Natural Resources: Land, Vegetation, Climate & Wildlife.
• Poll: Americans Favor ANWR Exploration.
• General Oil & Gas Facts-Alaska.
• ANWR Fact Links: Arctic Power; City of Kaktovik; Gwich'in Steering Committee; North Slope Borough; Porcupine Caribou Management Board; US Fish and Wildlife Service; US Geological Survey;  and others, here.

2.  Editorial:   New 2002 Editorials to Follow Below; 2001 Editorials Here.

• See this outstanding piece on ANWR: ALASKA: MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE? by Paula Easley

3.  Government:  Alaska State Senator Al Adams' Position (Senator Adams represented North Slope residents in the State Legislature unil retirement last year); Governor Knowles' Letter to Congress; North Slope Borough Mayor Statement (North Slope Borough is the local government body of the Alaska North Slope); U.S. Fish & Wildlife Page; NWT Legislative Assembly passes motion against ANWR development; George Tagarook is a council member and former mayor of the City of Kaktovik, an lnupiat village whose homelands include the Arctic drainage of what is called the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

4.  Industry:  Position of Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (The Alaska Native Regional Corporation which includes North Slope Native residents as shareholders).

5.  Advocacy: 

• Groups generally supporting exploration. 
• Groups generally opposing exploration. 
• Your Opinions Count:  Make them known here:
  • University of Connecticut ANWR Opinion Page.
• Native Residents Supporting ANWR Exploration.

 Author's note:  This page is written with the hope that many North Americans honestly want to understand the facts and are open minded.  One hopes this is especially true for those who have not visited the Arctic North, but seek to support logical public policy.  Until the facts change, the author admits to favoring ANWR exploration.  However, this position is not taken for political, fundraising or employment reasons: rather, it is the result of making scores of trips to the North Slope, knowing many of the village residents there, reviewing $100 million worth of Arctic pipeline environmental work and understanding the factual needs of North America for secure domestic supplies of energy.  I hope the information above is useful to you.  -dh