Alaska drilling plan seen helped by Iraq embargo
Date: 10-Apr-02
Country: USA
Author: Tom Doggett
The controversial issue over whether to give oil companies access to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has taken on new importance due to a 24 percent jump in gasoline prices since early March. Iraq's unexpected decisithis week to halt crude exports for 30 days injected new volatility into the oil markets.
Republicans are pushing to drill in a small part of the 19 million acre (7.7 million hectares) refuge to cut U.S. oil imports, which account for about 60 percent of domestic supplies. Much of the oil is shipped from volatile Middle East countries like Iraq.
Green groups and many Democrats oppose drilling, saying it would destroy a unique wilderness area and harm wildlife such as caribou and migratory birds. They also contend that the nation could achieve the same ends by tightening fuel standards for sport utility vehicles and other gas-guzzlers.
Republican Frank Murkowksi of Alaska is committed to offering an amendment to a broad U.S. energy policy bill to allow drilling in the refuge.
"We do have an ANWR (Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) amendment and we will present it as soon as it is finalized," said fellow Alaskan Ted Stevens.
SENATE LINGERS ON ENERGY DEBATE
Senate Democratic Majority Whip Harry Reid of Nevada accused Republicans of dragging out the Alaska drilling issue and called for the drilling amendment to be offered to the Senate for a vote.
"We need to finish this (energy) bill," Reid said.
Lawmakers have spent a total of 14 days so for debating energy legislation, a long period by Senate standards.
About 100 amendments to the energy bill are still pending, and Republicans want to wait until the non-controversial provisions have been voted on before bringing up the Alaska drilling amendment, a Republican aide said.
A Reuters survey late last month found that only 40 senators were on record in favor of opening the refuge. Fifty senators were against drilling and 10 lawmakers were undecided on the issue.
Under the Senate's rules, 60 votes are needed to end debate on controversial measures and proceed to a final vote.
JEWISH GROUPS BACK DRILLING
Republicans hope they can pick up a few votes following Iraq's decision to stop exporting oil for 30 days to protest the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"We hope all the senators are watching the (news) headlines," the Republican aide said.
Yesterday, Republican backers of the drilling plan were expected to announce new support from several major Jewish groups such as B'nai Brith and the American Jewish Congress.
Iraq is the sixth biggest supplier of foreign oil to the U.S. market, shipping about 800,000 barrels per day last year.
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed an energy bill last year that would allow drilling in the refuge.
A Republican aide said Murkowksi has left open the option of having the Senate pass an energy bill without an Alaskan drilling provision. Murkowski would then try to add drilling language in a smaller congressional conference committee that would reconcile differences in the Senate and House energy bills.