US Lifts Longtime Ban Alaskan Wildlife Habitat!

[rumpel]

THE NATION
U.S. Lifts Longtime Drilling Ban on Alaskan Wildlife Habitat
By Janet Wilson, Times Staff Writer

The Department of Interior on Wednesday approved oil and gas drilling on Alaska land considered such sensitive wildlife habitat that it was first protected by former Interior Secretary James G. Watt under President Reagan, and by four Interior secretaries since.

The decision — decried by Native American, hunting and environmental groups — comes just weeks after the U.S. Senate rejected drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, about 200 miles to the east.

Bureau of Land Management staff said the decision was made after three years of study and in response to requests by Vice President Dick Cheney's energy task force.

The plan, signed by Deputy Assistant Interior Secretary Chad Calvert, will open up more than 500,000 acres in and around Teshekpuk Lake on Alaska's oil-rich North Slope. BLM officials estimate the northeast National Petroleum Reserve, including the lake area, may contain as much as 2 billion barrels of "economically recoverable" oil.

The area is a critical stop for molting geese on the Pacific flyway, with as many as 90,000 birds resting in flat wetlands in the summer. Up to 46,000 caribou also use areas near the lake for calving and migration paths.

Although many Alaskans welcome drilling as an economic boon, some native leaders in the state blasted the decision.

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-drilling12jan12,0,2322858.story?coll=la-news-a_section

How can this be allowed?

[DS1]

1. How can this be allowed? Easy. Shithead gutless Democrats.

[sandnsea]

5. Why are you blaming the Democrats?

This has absolutely nothing to do with Congress, Bush is allowing this all on his own.

[sui generis]

2. are there any dems in office in Alaska?

Actually, let's look at this as good news, sort of.

They are going to tear that place apart and destroy even more of the North Slope.

All their claims about minimal impact to the environment will actually be put to the lie, and make an even stronger case for not drilling in ANWR.

It's just too bad we have to cut off a hand to save a foot . . .

[rumpel]

3. But biologist Senner says in the article:

"No one should be fooled by the window dressing … this plan makes every last acre available for oil development."

NRDC also says:

Giving 100% to the oil industry is not what anyone would call balanced."

[texpatriot2004]

4. So, once again Bush and Cheney do whatever they want without

regard to the law, to other branches of government, to the will of the American people,etc.

Impeach these filthy bastards already!