Alaska Congressional Delegation Opposes ANWR Plan

5/5/2010

The Alaska Congressional Delegation don’t always agree on some issues in Congress and Washington, D.C.; however, the three did agree to oppose the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed Comprehensive Conservation Plan for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Fish and Wildlife Service held a public meeting for the plan in Washington, D.C. as one of seven scoping meetings.

A letter, submitted jointly by U.S. Senator Mark Begich, Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young acknowledged the 22-year-old plan for ANWR needed to be updated, but they strongly objected to any further wilderness reviews for ANWR. The three felt such designations can only be made by Congress.

The three in the delegation also urged Fish and Wildlife to consider oil and gas exploration with modern technology and examine the potential effects of directional drilling as part of the plan.