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MONDAY, APRIL 7, 2003

The House floor will hear debate on an energy bill that includes provisions to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to development.

Most Alaskans support drilling, including Inupiat Eskimos who have surface and subsurface rights to land in ANWR's coastal plain, the area targeted for development. The House Resources Committee heard concerns at a field hearing in Kaktovik, an Inupiat village, on Saturday.

Environmentalists and the Gwich'in Nation, who depend on caribou that calve in ANWR, oppose development. They are supported by a large number of Democrats.

The energy bill, which was passed by the House Resources Committee last week, includes a section on Indian Energy. So does the Senate's energy package, being drafted by Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

But Domenici won't put ANWR in his bill. In an interview with the Associated Press, he said he's surprised by the opposition to development but no means no. The Senate defeated a drilling proposal last month.

Get the Story:
U.S. House to debate energy bill today (The Billings Gazette 4/7)
Villagers get say in drilling (AP 4/6)
Senator: ANWR Plan Won't Make Bill (AP 4/5)

Relevant Links:
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

Related Stories:
House panel approves ANWR drilling bill (04/03)
Alaska village is site of Congressional hearing (04/02)
Norton says ANWR fight not over despite defeat (3/31)
Editorial: On ANWR, GOP won't take no for an answer (3/25)
Senate strips ANWR provision from new budget (3/20)
Editorial: What was Gale Norton thinking? (3/20)
Senate set to vote on ANWR budget amendment (3/19)
Republicans concede loss on ANWR drilling vote (3/18)
Senate set for showdown on ANWR drilling vote (3/14)
Alaska lawmakers approve pro-drilling funds (3/14)
GOP said to move closer to ANWR approval (3/12)
Alaska bill funds pro-ANWR drilling initiatives (02/27)
Studies indicate ANWR oil is desirable (02/18)
ANWR opponents challenge Senate maneuvers (02/03)
Domenici maneuvering to develop ANWR (01/15)
ANWR proponents have high hopes (01/07)
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Pros and Cons: Arctic Drilling (3/19)
Among Inupiat Eskimos, an 'injustice' (3/13)
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