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Late Breaking News |
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| Date: August 6, 1998 4:56 pm Contact: Sierra Club In San Francisco: Megan Fowler, (415) 977-5526 In Alaska: Nancy Michaelson, (907) 276-4048 |
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Latest News Releases
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Sierra Club Denounces Administration's Plan To Open Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve To Oil Leasing And Development | ||
| WASHINGTON - August 6 - The plan offered by Interior Secretary Bruce
Babbitt to allow oil leasing and development in 4 million acres of America's National
Petroleum Reserve fails to recognize the critical importance of protecting the Arctic
Ecosystem and is a bad compromise that will allow giant oil corporations to drill and
develop previously undisturbed wilderness. The plan opens 87% of the Reserve to leasing,
while protecting only 13%. "There is no compelling case to be made for why we should sacrifice the unique wilderness and wildlife of this area," emphasized Bruce Hamilton, Conservation Director of the Sierra Club. "These are public resources that belong to every American and should not be sacrificed to please the oil industry and officials in the state of Alaska. While this is a great deal for big oil companies, it puts in jeopardy many of Alaska's biological treasures such as the wild caribou herds, numerous bird and fish species, moose, and brown bears." The plan was touted by Secretary Babbitt as a balance between oil development and environmental protection. "But in a time when oil and gas prices are at the lowest levels in two decades," argued Hamilton, "there is no need or justification to support this plan. While gas prices remain low, we should be shifting away from fossil fuel development and burning, not opening up new areas for the oil industry to pillage." While Secretary Babbitt recognized the unique environmental values of the Colville River and Teshekpuk Lake regions and gave them added protection, even they are not fully protected under this proposal. The Teshekpuk Lake Caribou Herd is put at risk by this proposal by opening up a significant portion of its critical calving area to development. 16% of the calving area is opened to surface occupancy. The calving area is the most critical habitat for the herd and should be fully protected from all development. "This plan permits leasing that relies on stipulations to protect caribou, raptors, and waterfowl," observed Hamilton. "But the Sierra Club believes that all prime wildlife areas should be off limits to leasing. There is no national emergency. Why should we be inviting oil companies into the most important wildlife habitat areas?" # # # |
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