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Anwar is short for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska. Geologists estimate Anwar
holds 10 Billion barrels of Oil, enough Oil to get the United States by for two years. There is only one problem,
there is currently a ban on drilling at this field in Alaska which is referred to as the North Slope.
ANWAR
Ban History: The ANWR ban dates all the way back to 1973 which was signed into law by president Richard Nixon.
Alaska's Gwich'in Indians, whose hunting ground are protected by the 1973 law, are one of the main reasons the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is off limits for oil companies to drill. In addition to the oil drilling having
a natural effect on the environment, conservationists worry that drilling and potential accidents would jeopardize the animals
that populate the ANWR including caribou and polar bears. It doesn't end there for the ANWAR debate. Canada also
fears that opening up the Anwar would put their land at risk as well as their animals. Environmentalists have been speaking
out for the past 35 years on the subject of protecting ANWAR's wildlife and protecting the beautiful Alaskan land
from oil spills.
ANWAR Facts: There are around 19 million acres in Alaska North
Slope, which again, is referred to by the name of ANWAR. The 1992 election of Bill Clinton to the U.S. presidency and
the Democrats' gains in both the Senate and the House of Representatives seemed to eliminate the possibility that the
ANWR would be repealed. Oil companies and President Bush have recently intensified their debate
about the possible opening of the oil fields in Alaska. There is also a federal ban on drilling oil shale
from the Green River Basin located mainly in Colorado. Did you know that the Green River Oil Shale Deposit is the biggest in the World?
Benefiting from ANWAR: Now that we have heard
the cons about drilling in Alaska's Anwar, what are the benefits? For one, it would bring a huge economic boom to
Alaska. This ANWAR drilling plan would produce a ton of jobs, bring businesses to Alaska. Safe drilling in the
ANWAR would help the United States reduce its dependency on foreign oil as we watch oil prices sky rocket past $140 per barrel.
Yes we would only gain two years worth of oil....but that is a huge step right now as we scramble to find new sources
of energy such as solar power, wind power, hydrogen, and ethanol. We aren't even discussing the offshore part of
Alaska which could contain 30 billion barrels of Oil. We are just speaking about ANWAR here. One last
pro. Alaska has no income tax. Legislators feel this may not last if the ANWAR ban is not lifted.
In conclusion, lifting the Alaska Oil Field Ban would help the United States and Alaska a great deal.....but it
also risks oil spills, hurting traditional Gwich'in Indians of Alaska, and the wildlife they rely on to live the
lives of their choice. While the debate on lifting the ban is just heating up, I do think the decision will be based
on whoever wins this years presidential election.
There is also major oil being drilled in North Dakota, Montana,
and Canada which is located in the Bakken Shale Formation. Be sure to check out Bakken Shale, and these great shale fields: Marcellus Shale - Horn River Shale - Woodford Shale - Fayetteville Shale - Brazil Oil Field - Barnett Shale - Haynesville Shale - Chattanooga Shale - Utica Shale
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