Posted on 03/29/2002 4:14:41 AM PST by stocksthatgoup
Arctic Drilling a Threat to Wildlife Fri Mar 29, 2:15 AM ET By H. JOSEF HEBERT, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Caribou and other wildlife are vulnerable and may face substantial risk if oil is developed in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska, according to a study by government scientists.
The findings by Interior Department biologists paint a more threatening picture to wildlife should Congress lift its long-standing ban on development of the refuge than drilling advocates have portrayed.
The report, being released Friday by the U.S. Geological Survey (news - web sites), acknowledges that in many cases the risks to a variety of wildlife, including musk-oxen, polar bears and migrating birds, could be reduced by restrictions and close management of oil exploration and production.
Still the report, a copy of which was obtained late Thursday by The Associated Press, is likely to provide new ammunition to those vowing to block efforts in Congress next month to allow oil companies into the refuge.
"Once again the administration has released a report undermining its own case," said Sen. Joe Lieberman (news - web sites), D-Conn., claiming the findings confirm "the environmental destruction that would occur" if the refuge were opened to oil development.
Recently, an Energy Department report suggested that oil from the refuge would provide only modest reductions in U.S. oil imports.
Drilling in ANWR, as the refuge is called, is a top energy priority of the White House.
While the study makes no recommendation on whether the refuge should be developed, it concludes that the region's wildlife are especially vulnerable to the kinds of disturbances that development may bring.
For example, it concludes that the Porcupine caribou herd, which uses the coastal plain for calving each summer, "may be particularly sensitive to development" because it has little quality habitat elsewhere and historically it has been shown that calf survival is linked to the animals' ability to move freely.
The 78-page report is based on an examination of 12 years of research into wildlife activities and the ecology of the Arctic refuge's 1.5 million-acre coastal plain — the area that also may contain about 11.4 billion barrels of oil.
As with the case of the caribou, the study found that development of the refuge's coastal plain may pose risks to other wildlife:
_The musk-oxen was described as particularly "vulnerable to disturbances" from oil and gas exploration because they live in the region year-round, including winter when exploration would be most intense.
_Snow geese, among the millions of migratory birds on the coastal plain, may be displaced because of increased activity, including air traffic. It cannot be assumed the geese will find adequate feeding areas elsewhere, the study says.
_Denning polar bears, another fixture on the coastal plain, also might be adversely affected, the assessment said, but added in this case "aggressive and proactive management" of the development could minimize — or even eliminate — most of the problem.
As for the caribou, the report said "oil development will most likely result in restricting the location of concentrated calving areas" and lead to fewer calves being able to survive and, in turn, possibly a decline in the herd.
In a memo to Interior Secretary Gale Norton, the director of the U.S. Geological Survey, Charles Groat, said he wanted to "clarify certain aspects" of the report, including that the research also showed "with mitigation the effect of human development ... could be minimal" where most wildlife are concerned.
But Groat acknowledged that adverse risks to the Porcupine caribou "would depend on the type of development and where the development occurred."
Norton repeatedly has said the refuge's oil can be extracted without harm to the environment or the region's wildlife, arguing that modern drilling techniques can minimize the intrusion into what environmentalists view as one of the world's most pristine and ecologically significant areas.
Interior spokesman Mark Pfeifle said Norton believes the concerns raised in the report will be addressed by the limits that will be put on oil development should Congress lift its current ban on drilling.
Those include limiting the "footprint" that development will have on the terrain and requiring the exploration be conducted only in winter. Oil production would be allowed year-round under legislation now in Congress.
Kenneth Whitten, a retired Alaska state biologist who participated in writing the chapter on the caribou, said in a telephone interview that some of the mitigation proposals are unrealistic.
In case of polar bears, Whitten said, "we don't know where all the dens are. Almost surely during winter we'll be disturbing bears" during oil exploration.
"There's intense pressure within the Department of Interior to come up with findings of no impact," Whitten added.
Bill Seiz, the regional director of the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska, acknowledged "there are risks" to the wildlife, but those can be controlled depending on how development occurs.
The report "doesn't make any judgment about development," said Seiz. "It looks at basic science, the things that ought to be looked at if the area is to be developed."
you are absolutely right.
however, the caribou and bears are plenty smart enough.
These lunchbags have a deemed "wildlife refuge" the size of the state of North Carolina completely off limits to the citizens that own it. The caribou don't give 2 craps about any damn oil rigs or pipelines, it's just another furry critter propaganda ploy aimed at the ignorants.
They did the same thing when they started the fraudulent "wetlands" land grab. Years ago they sold it to the ignorant public by telling everyone that it was to protect fluffy and cute waterfowl. Now, they've incrementalized their agenda to the point where in my area, if you have any one of 8 different types of soil, or any one of hundreds of different types of plants or animal on your property it can be deemed "wetlands".
These a$$holes need to be exposed for the egregious liars they are. They lied to everyone on every high profile initiative they've undertaken whether it was global warming, the spotted owl, lynx populations, Klamath salmon or drilling in Alaska.
They'll ruin your town, your family, your farm, your business and your way of life to further their cause. Envirofascist orgs (private and public) are full of leftists that hate capitalism in general and property rights in particular.
The truth is they treat us as the enemy, and until we start treating them likewise we'll get more of the same. These freaks need to be stopped and we need to stop them.
The animals may actually notice something new in the region, and spend a few minutes discussing it with one another instead of eating.
Drilling could hurt an animals feelings.
Animals may actually be protected from the elements in the region, and multiply. This is not goods for the land nazis' cause.
We may get our own source of oil, and the "share the wealth with the world" human animals in the region would get upset.
Environmentalists may go extinct from being proven wrong again.
Funny thing is, there are literally thousands of wells, pump-jacks, tank batteries, and other assorted oil production related equipment scattered around the state of Texas. And yet our Whitetail deer population is huge, approx. 4 million critters. The feral hog population is at approx. 1 million critters. And there are millions of other native and exotic game animals running around the state.
None of these critters seem to have a problem with this.
The problem is that they are not getting the message quickly enough. And for every two steps forward the Republicans in Congress take one step back. The party leadership of the Republicans is scared too death of the media on slaught every time they stand up for their principles. The loss of a single seat scares them to death. Everyone of them takes an introspective look after one conservative or any Republican goes down in an election and says there but for the grace of God, go I. In short they sacrifice their principles on the excuse that the country is far better off if they remain in office. God forbid that they could lose to Democrat. Then where would we be?
I think it is time to administer shock treatment to the Republicans in Congress and to Bush himself. I think conservatives should not vote Republican in November. And they must vote conservative, but not for any Democrat, whether the Democrat claims to be conservative or is portrayed to be more conservative than his Republican opponent. The Repubilicans should be removed from power in the House and should not be returned to the majority in the Senate. And all those votes that did not go to Republicans should be clearly recorded for libertarian candidates, Constitutional Party candidates or any other third party candidate that has readily apparent conservative principles. After Newt was defeated (and is important to note that he was not defeated because he was conservative, he was defeated because of his personal character defects), Republicans in Congress took that there but for the grace...bit to the limit. If they can do it Newt, they can do it to me approach. They have moved left and never looked back. We need to remove those that we can, and scare the rest to death. If Bush can't controll the government against a Democratic House and Senate with the people behind him, then we will need to replace Bush in the 2004 elections as well. Reagan certainly managed to control the Democrats with the power of the people behind him. There are some who believe that Bush may be able to achieve more than Reagan. I have my doubts, but he definitely needs a kick in the butt to get his attention and get him back on track. If he doesn't have genuine conservative principles or the political skills to contain the Democrats, then he should be replaced.
The problem with the stealth or creeping conservative approach is the amount of time required to take the country back. Incrementalism will not work in this case. The Democrats have had over 70 years to corrupt the system. One thing the Democrats are pros at corrupting things and they have done a professional job on government, the courts, our educational systems, and our society. Most Americans have not carefully examined the financial realities of Social Security and Medicare. Quite frankly, the unfunded liabilties of these two programs cannot be funded in fashion that will be politically acceptable to anyone. If we don't solve this problem before the President elected in 2008 leaves office, we are going to see an inter-generational clash that will tear the United States apart. Somebody's ox is going to get gored. It is only question of whose and how bad will it be. Even as productive as this country can be, we cannot grow the economy (without massive inflation) sufficiently to pay for these socialistic atrocities. They must be privatized as quickly, as fairly, and as painlessly as possible. Medicare, by far, has the potential to do the most harm, but because it is by far the more politically sensitive, I don't think anyone will be allowed to tinker with Medicare before fixing SS. Fortunately, SS can be privatized fairly quickly, fairly and with no one losing any benefits to which they are currently or will become entitled. The CATO plan based on zero coupon bonds works if we act within the next five years.
In summary, the United States is going to break down completely and disintegrate before 2016 if we do not replace the socialistic programs put in place by the Democrats. I don't think the Republicans or the rest oif America are willing to face this reality without a major political shock to replace the weak and to strengthen the resolve of the survivors. For the next few years we need to begin to think about the fact that we are engaged in a political war that will determine whether the United States will continue to survive. There is still time to take corrective action, but only if the people in power recognize the need and the urgency of the problem. When you have a stubborn obstacle to problem solving. Sometimes you have to hit them between the eyes with a large stick. This fall's election is our chance to get their attention.
For a long time, I have been one of the leading nay-sayers begging people to remain loyal to the Republican party. I can't count the number of times that I have asked people on this site to remember that any vote not cast for a Republican is the equivalent of voting for the Democrat. And we have seen three consecutive elections for president where third parties have changed the outcome of the election. Clinton could not have been elected without that incompetent, arrogant, egotistical, little half-wit. And every day I hope somebody from this site will send a campaign contribution to Ralph Nader. Five cents of every dollar collected to support this web site, should be given to Nader's campaign if he runs again. Now we need to provide a clear definition to the Republicans that conservatives mean business. Until they understand that we insist they do it now or we will get somebody else that will, they are not going to change. In my humble opinion, we have reached the nut-cutting. The United States as a country is on the line. We are late in the fourth quarter and the clock is running out. There is not enough time left to stick to the original game plan. We tried it, and thanks to Reagan and the 1994 election; it almost worked. Unfortunately, our quarterbacks fumbled the ball too many times between 1996 and 2000 leaving us in a deep hole. There is still time for a hail Mary play. I have offered mine. I think it based on sound reasoning and logic and that it will come closer to working than any other strategy that I have been able to see.
I think the administration is solid as far as the requisite skills are concerned. Frankly, no President has ever assembled a better cabinet. And our back-up quarterback is arguably more talented and experienced than our starter. But we have some weaknesses on the rest of the team, and the whole team's performances lack inspiration. As the team's owners, our job is to put the fear of God back in the whole team while we are strengthening some positions. They need to know they have to win or we will get somebody that will.
Here's a picture of a fire on the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland in 1952. The river repeatedly caught fire like this through the 50's and 60's. A fire on the river in 1969 received national press coverage and was a major factor in the implementation of the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act.
The current vastly improved state of the air and water in the United States is due to the environmental gains of the 1970s. Do you think that "envirofascist" organizations were to blame for all of that?
He didn't control their ability to spend money, which is why deficits increased so much in the 1980s. Democrats ignored the Reagan budgets.
Hmmmmm...check out the pictures at the end of this post
Taken from the February issue of Oil & Gas Investor, page 11:
EIA estimates total US production at 5.78 million barrels of oil per day (BOD).
Shell Oil's Brutus offshore platform (Gulf) is expected to peak at 100,000 BOD this year. Production from the Mars, Troika, Ursa, Dianna-Hoover and Brutus offshore Gulf fields could account for 9.7% of total lower 48 oil production by fourth quarter 2003.Alaska will produce 17.2% of total US production (including Gulf production) in 2003 with the addition of the Colville River, Aurora, Polaris and Borealis satellite fields located on the North Slope.
LET ME BE CLEAR: with TOTAL US production at 5.78 million BOD, the addition of modest ANWR estimates of 1 million BOD, is equal to 17.3% of TOTAL US PRODUCTION
ANWR Oil Estimates
- ANWR total area: 19,600,000 acres
- ANWR designated wilderness part: 8,000,000 acres
- ANWR coastal plain (not part of wilderness area) designated long ago by Congress for oil exploration study: 1,500,000 acres
- Coastal plain area needed for oil extraction: 2,000 acres (0.01% of the total ANWR area)
In 1998 the USGS did a study that concluded that there are between 5.7 billion to 16 Billion barrels of recoverable Oil in the "1002" Area of ANWR. That is a LOT of oil!
and it doesn’t even take into consideration the nearly 200 TRILLION cubic feet of natural gas there (over 150 years supply at the current rate of use in the U.S.)
A little perspective on the size of ANWR development:
An exploration rig on the tundra and the absence of any wildlife in this region
Beautiful Spring day in this coastal plain
Coastal Plain
spring summer winter
Only 2,000 acres out of 19.5 MILLION are even under consideration for drilling. And those 19.5 million acres are but a FRACTION of the total land mass of Alaska. Also, contrary to dire predictions of the devastating impact on wildlife that would occur when the pipeline in Prudhoe bay, the caribou herd there have actually grown to record numbers.
SITE MAP (background / technology)
http://www.anwr.org/sitemap.htmFROM http://www.anwr.org/topten.htm
TOP 10 REASONS TO SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT IN ANWR
1. Only 8% of ANWR Would Be Considered for Exploration Only the 1.5 million acre or 8% on the northern coast of ANWR is being considered for development. The remaining 17.5 million acres or 92% of ANWR will remain permanently closed to any kind of development. If oil is discovered, less than 2000 acres of the over 1.5 million acres of the Coastal Plain would be affected.2. Revenues to the State and Federal Treasury Federal revenues would be enhanced by billions of dollars from bonus bids, lease rentals, royalties and taxes. Estimates in 1995 on bonus bids alone were $2.6 billion.
3. Jobs To Be Created Between 250,000 and 735,000 jobs are estimated to be created by development of the Coastal Plain.
4. Economic Impact Between 1980 and 1994, North Slope oil field development and production activity contributed over $50 billion to the nations economy, directly impacting each state in the union.
5. America's Best Chance for a Major Discovery The Coastal Plain of ANWR is America's best possibility for the discovery of another giant "Prudhoe Bay-sized" oil and gas discovery in North America. U.S. Department of Interior estimates range from 9 to 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
6. North Slope Production in Decline The North Slope oil fields currently provide the U.S. with nearly 25% of it's domestic production and since 1988 this production has been on the decline. Peak production was reached in 1980 of two million barrels a day, but has been declining to a current level of 1.4 million barrels a day.
7. Imported Oil too Costly The U.S. imports over 55% of the nation's needed petroleum. These oil imports cost more than $55.1 billion a year (this figure does not include the military costs of protecting that imported supply). These figures are rising and could exceed 65% by the year 2005.
8. No Negative Impact on Animals Oil and gas development and wildlife are successfully coexisting in Alaska's arctic. For example, the Central Arctic Caribou Herd (CACH) at Prudhoe Bay has grown from 3,000 to as high as 23,400 during the last 20 years of operation. In 1995, the Central Arctic Caribou Herd size was estimated to be 18,100 animals.
9. Arctic Technology Advanced technology has greatly reduced the 'footprint" of arctic oil development. If Prudhoe Bay were built today, the footprint would be 1,526 acres, 64% smaller.
10. Alaskans Support More than 75% of Alaskans favor exploration and production in ANWR. The Inupiat Eskimos who live in and near ANWR support onshore oil development on the Coastal Plain.
RELATED ARTICLES Bush Renews Campaign For Arctic Oil
Source: AP; Puublished: February 25, 2002;
Author: APFresh from Asia ~ Bush bonks Daschle head with ANWR club
Source: Reuters / Whitehouse.gov; Published: February 23, 2002Inupiat Views Ignored in ANWR Debate
Source: ANWR; Anchorage Times Editorial;
Author: Tara MacLean SweeneyINUPIAT LEADER ASKS SENATORS TO . . .Visit ANWR
Source: Anchorage Daily News; Published: February 17, 2002
Voice of the TimesANWR Showdown -- Liberal Caught Playing Loose With The Facts [My Title]
Source: The Fargo Forum and the Grand Forks Herald; Published: February 14, 2002;
Author: Chris Beachy; John BluemleKerry and Lieberman ignore invitation from native villagers in ANWR
Source: USNewswire; Published February 13, 2002;
Author:| Village of Kaktovik AlaskaANWR Survey
Source: City of Kaktovik, Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), Web Page;
author: City of KaktovikListening to Alaska
Source: National Driller; Published: September 27, 2001ANWR and Oil
Source: Town Hall.com; Published April 11, 2001Bush Is Right: Opening ANWR To Oil Exploration Would Help Consumers Without Hurting Environment
Source: The National Center for Public Policy Research; Published: January 23, 2001
Author: John CarlisleTime To Permit Oil Drilling In the Arctic Refuge
Source: Heritage Foundation; Published: October 17, 1995
Author: John ShanahanIt has been mentioned that the caribou herd had over tripled near the pipeline!
Seems other species have flourished as well
While the environmental laws have had some bearing on the river's condition, one must also factor in that most steel mill and other industries have shut down in this area. As these industries no longer exist, there is no discharge of wastes into the Cuyahoga River.
The invasion/dumping (approximate 1970) of the African Zebra mussels most also be considered.
The Cuyahoga was provided because it was the condition of the Cuyahoga that gave impetus to important environmental legislation. As a Republican who considers the environment an important issue, I am concerned when every environmental group is characterized as "fascist" and all their aims are considered socialist. A great deal of good has been accomplished by the environmental movement, even though the extremists undermine the efforts of the more moderate and pragmatic. (Which is also true of extreme far-right groups compared to the conservative core of the Republican party.)
That's why I responded to the quote I provided.
Bookmarking for a good source of ANWR information.
CedarDave
(from Hobbs, the oil capital of SE NM)
The fact is that increased drilling will INCREASE the caribou herd five fold, just like it did for the caribou herd of the North Slope.
In the 30 plus years of oil development on the North Slope of the Brooks Range in Alaska, there are NO photos of negative affects on the wildlife of the North Slope. It is time for the USGS to photographically document any harm that they can see was done to the wildlife on the North Slope during the past 30 years.
The proper question is "Does the federal government have the right to own the lands of the ANWR?". The citizens of Alaska should decide what should be done in their own back yard. That is the way the constitution was designed.
Yes, bears have found the going much easier than drudging through the snow. Some species are mutiplying due to lower birth fatality. Seems the area's severe cold is partially negated by the pipeline radiating some warmth.
See? This is not a problem. The excitement was generated by the AP writer who wanted a catchy hook to the top of the article. There is nothing wrong here, except the AP writer probably still has a job. Which he wouldn't if he worked for RightWhale News.
The ANWR lie is the latest enviral lie by the envirals who lie about lynx hair, spotted owls and a stinky bottom sucker fish.
One of these days we will find out how much money the OPECKER princes have sent under the table to the enviral green Nazis to make us more dependent on their Opecker Oil.
When we finally get to see the vast amounts of money secretly given to the envirals by the OPECKER PRINCES, America will wake up to the real evil of the enviralists and their lies like this lying AP writer who has a history of enviral lies.
Then the envirals take the OPECKER money given to them and elect senators like Mullah Da$$hole. Mullah Da$$hole, as one man has kept the senate from voting on drilling in ANWR. Why, follow the money that he gets from the envirals.
The moment we break the back of the OPECKER OIL Cartel, terrorism will basically disappear. Without our petro $'s there would be no international terrorism funded by the Opecker Princes via their terrorist organizations! Take the chauffered Mercedes away from the Opecker princes and put them back on camels and watch how Islamic terrorism will fade away!
In the meantime, we need to elect enough repubiesin the senate and house to have control of the senate and house. The bill to allow drilling in ANRW will be then voted on and approved by the senate and signed by President Bush. That will be first major step in breaking the stangle hold that the Opecker Princes have on us via OPEC, the vile oil cartel.
A quick solution would be for EnviroNazis to only be allowed to purchase natural gas, oil, kerosene, gasoline that is drilled/refined IN THEIR "BACKYARD/STATE". My guess is there would be cheaper fuel for us all AND a quick mindchange by greenheads(no gas for SUV, freezing in winters).......Texans wouldn't mind......
This will happen cuz there will be more oil workers for the bears to eat.
HAA!! I kill me!!!
BUMP SAVE ANWR STATS
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