WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved a plan to allow oil drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The House passed a plan sponsored by California Republican Richard Pombo that would allow drilling on 2,000 acres (811 hectares) of ANWR out of the refuge's total 19 million acres.
Tapping the 10 billion barrels of crude estimated to lay beneath the refuge is a key part of the Bush administration's national energy plan to reduce U.S. reliance on petroleum imports, which now comprise about 60 percent of U.S. supplies.
But many Democrats and environmentalists argue there is not enough oil to justify destroying the habitat for ANWR's polar bears, caribou and other wildlife.
1. Who says it's gonna be "destroyed"?
2. I wonder how many Dems could find it on a map? |