ANWR in House energy bill

Steve Sutherlin, Petroleum News associate editor

The movement to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge gained a victory April 2 in the U.S. House, with a 27-17 Resources Committee vote in favor of retaining a provision to authorize exploration and development of oil and gas in the 1002 area of the reserve.

The vote means the House energy bill will contain an ANWR development provision when it goes to the House floor for a vote, scheduled the week of April 7. The Resources Committee voted 32-14 in favor of the energy bill. On the House floor, a motion to remove the ANWR development provision might surface, but pro-development forces are confident the House will vote to retain the development provision in a vote of the full membership, according to Roger Herrera, Arctic Power’s Washington, D.C., representative.

“That will keep us alive to keep fighting the fight,” Herrera said. The House plans to finish debate on the energy bill before its Easter recess. Alaska Gov. Frank Murkowski said the committee vote to authorize exploration and development in the 1002 area is an important victory.

“Even though this is just one step in the legislative process, it demonstrates that ANWR is alive and well in Congress,” Murkowski said. “We will continue to work with Congressman Young, Arctic Power, labor unions, and others to get ANWR favorable consideration on the House floor.”