Arctic National Arctic National Wildlife RefugeWildlife Refuge

To drill or not to drill?To drill or not to drill?Lauren ElmegreenLauren Elmegreen

ESP Seminar 10/13/05ESP Seminar 10/13/05

Geological ImpactsGeological Impacts FloodingFlooding ThermokarstThermokarst

Thawing of ground Thawing of ground iceice

Results in Results in depressions that fill depressions that fill with water to with water to create lakes, create lakes, causing more causing more warmingwarming http://www.beringia.com/climate/content/permafrost.shtml

CaribouCaribou

http://arctic.fws.gov/caribou.htm

Cameron, R. D. et al, Arctic, 58.1 (2005): 1(9)

http://arctic.fws.gov/caribou.htm

How much oil is there?How much oil is there? Mean estimate: 7.8 billion barrelsMean estimate: 7.8 billion barrels In 12 years, we would get 1 million In 12 years, we would get 1 million

barrels per day (mbd)barrels per day (mbd) In 18 years, we would reach a In 18 years, we would reach a

maximum of 1.3 mbdmaximum of 1.3 mbd In 23 years, we would get less than 1 In 23 years, we would get less than 1

mbdmbd

Cleveland, C. J. and R. K. Kaufman. 2003. Cleveland, C. J. and R. K. Kaufman. 2003. Energy PolicyEnergy Policy (31): 485 - 489. (31): 485 - 489.

But, still in economic interest of oil companies…

FingerprintFingerprint The bill states the need to “The bill states the need to “ensure

that the maximum amount of surface acreage covered by production and support facilities, including airstrips and any areas covered by gravel berms or piers for the support of pipelines, does not exceed 2,000 acres on the Coastal Plain”

http://www.http://www.policyalmanacpolicyalmanac.org/environment/archive/.org/environment/archive/crscrs__anwranwr..shtmlshtml

However…However… 2000 acres does not include roads2000 acres does not include roads The 2000 acres do not have to be The 2000 acres do not have to be

contiguouscontiguous 100,000 acres of Native lands in the 100,000 acres of Native lands in the

area are not includedarea are not included

SummarySummary Drilling could impact the geology of Drilling could impact the geology of

ANWRANWR Wildlife such as caribou could be Wildlife such as caribou could be

harmedharmed ANWR oil production would not make ANWR oil production would not make

a big difference to our economya big difference to our economy The 2000 acre fingerprint that is often The 2000 acre fingerprint that is often

cited is misleadingcited is misleading

ReferencesReferences Cameron, R. D., W. T. Smith, R. G. White and B. Griffith. Cameron, R. D., W. T. Smith, R. G. White and B. Griffith.

2005. 2005. Central Arctic caribou and petroleum development: Central Arctic caribou and petroleum development: distributional, nutritional, and reproductive distributional, nutritional, and reproductive

implications. implications. ArcticArctic (58): 1-9. (58): 1-9. Cleveland, Cutler J. and Robert K. Kaufman. 2003. Oil supply Cleveland, Cutler J. and Robert K. Kaufman. 2003. Oil supply

and and oil politics: Deja Vu all over again. oil politics: Deja Vu all over again. Energy PolicyEnergy Policy (31): (31): 485 - 489.485 - 489.

Walker, D. A. et al. 1987. Cumulative impacts of oil fields on Walker, D. A. et al. 1987. Cumulative impacts of oil fields on Northern Alaskan landscapes. Northern Alaskan landscapes. Science Science (238): 757-761.(238): 757-761.

The Policy Almanac: The Policy Almanac: http://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/crs_anwr.shtmlhttp://www.policyalmanac.org/environment/archive/crs_anwr.shtml

Defenders of Wildlife: Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.savearcticrefuge.org/http://www.savearcticrefuge.org/ US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska: US Fish and Wildlife Service, Alaska: http://arctic.fws.gov/http://arctic.fws.gov/

Brant and Snow GeeseBrant and Snow Geese

http://www.astronomy-images.com/day-images/California/Birds/brant-geese.htm