Government Plans New Oil Drilling Sale in Alaska Wildlife Area
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge faces another test as companies decide whether to bid on drilling rights.
The U.S. government is holding another auction to sell oil and gas drilling rights in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This latest sale is happening on Friday and continues efforts to expand oil drilling in Alaska. Companies can bid on the right to drill for oil in a protected wilderness area. The refuge is home to many animals and is important to Native American groups.
People who oppose drilling in the refuge point to important facts. They say companies haven't shown much interest in the past two sales. They also worry about climate change affecting the Arctic region. These groups believe the area should stay protected from drilling.
Conservation groups sent letters to 11 big oil companies this spring. The letter asked companies like ConocoPhillips and Hilcorp not to participate in the sale. The groups warned about legal troubles and risks to company reputations. They called the refuge a 'crown jewel' of America's public lands.
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge sits between two major oil areas. The famous Prudhoe Bay and Kuparuk oil fields are nearby on Alaska's North Slope. Scientists estimate the coastal plain could contain between 4.25 billion and 11.8 billion barrels of oil. However, there's limited information about how much oil is really there.
The coastal plain is considered sacred by the Gwich'in, because the caribou herd they rely upon calve there.
Comprehension quiz preview
1. When is the latest oil and gas lease sale taking place?
2. How many oil companies did conservation groups send letters to?
3. What is the only community located within the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?