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Environment
GOP removes ANWR drilling from budget measure


House Republican leaders have agreed to remove drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from the budget in order to avoid a mutiny among moderate Republicans.

At least 22 moderates told the House leadership they would not vote for the budget measure if it included ANWR drilling. Some said they were concerned that the nation's voters are turning against Republicans, citing results from Tuesday's elections.

The Senate already approved the budget with ANWR drilling. Some Senate Republicans are adamant about including it in the final package negotiated by the House and the Senate.

Alaska Natives are divided on the issue. Inupiat Eskimos, who own surface and mineral rights in ANWR, support drilling. The Gwich'in Nation opposes development out of fear it will harm the Porcupine caribou herd that migrates through ANWR.

The Arctic Slope Regional Corp., which owns the subsurface rights, won't have to share revenues with the other Alaska Native regional corporations.

Get the Story:
House drops ANWR from budget (The Anchorage Daily News 11/10)
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GOP to Strike Arctic Drilling From House Bill (The Washington Post 11/10)
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House Shelves Alaska Drilling in Budget Fight (The New York Times 11/10)
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Murkowski hopeful ANWR will rebound (AP 11/10)

Relevant Links:
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Gwic'hin Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Willdife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

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