As the new home of OSPIRG's environmental work, Environment Oregon can be contacted regarding this news release.
PORTLAND—Today,
Oregonians gathered in front of Senator Smith’s Portland office for a
“waffle” breakfast to urge Senator Smith to stick to his word to
protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge by voting against the
budget reconciliation bill. The waffle breakfast comes in response to
Senator Smith’s recent statements that he will vote for the budget
reconciliation, despite a provision in the bill that would allow oil
and gas drilling in the refuge.
“Senator
Smith has said again and again that he does not support opening the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. Voting for the budget
reconciliation package is a vote to drill in the arctic refuge,” stated
Laurele Fulkerson, Northwest Organizer for the Alaska Coalition.
“Oregonians are counting on Smith to stick to his word and protect the
arctic.”
While
Smith voted against the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural
Resources markup of Budget Reconciliation language that would permit
drilling in the refuge, he stated the following week that he intends to
vote for the budget reconciliation bill on the Senate floor, including
the arctic drilling provision.
The
Senate Energy Committee mark up is being debated today on the Senate
floor. Committee Chairman Pete Domenici’s markup, which passed 13-9 in
committee, contains provisions that would open up the last 5% of the
arctic coastline protected from drilling. The markup requires two lease
sales on the coastal plain of the Refuge by 2010, which Domenici claims
would amount to slightly more than the $2.4 billion in revenue that is
required under the budget reconciliation instructions. However,
according to a July 2005 report from the Energy Information
Administration (EIA), if oil were discovered in commercial quantities,
it would take 10 years before a drop of Arctic Refuge oil could first
be produced. The EIA states that in 2025, at peak production, Arctic
Refuge oil would make up only 8/10 of 1 percent (0.8%) of world oil
production, only 3% of U.S. oil consumption, and would lower gas prices
by about a penny per gallon.
“Based
on the US Energy Department’s own accounting, it is clear that Arctic
Refuge oil would merely amount to a drop in the bucket of the oil
market,” stated Laura Etherton, Field Director of OSPIRG. “We simply
cannot drill our way to lower gas prices and energy independence. We
could save more oil by raising fuel efficiency standards for cars and
SUVs, so why sacrifice this pristine wilderness? It makes no sense.”
In
addition to the provision that would allow drilling in the refuge,
opponents to the budget reconciliation bill cite billions in cuts to
Medicaid, Medicare, food stamps, and college aid as reasons for Senator
Smith to oppose the bill.
“Senator
Smith has been commended in the past for his votes against drilling in
the refuge”, said Amy Hojnowski, Oregon Field Representative of the
National Environmental Trust, “but the real test of Senator Smith’s
commitment to protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will be
the floor vote on the budget reconciliation. There should be no doubt
that a vote for this budget is a vote for drilling in the Arctic,”
continued Hojnowski.
The
Senate is expected to vote on the budget reconciliation as early as
Thursday. House committees are expected to complete their budget bills
today. Votes are expected on the House floor the week of November 7.
Additional Contacts
Laurele Fulkerson, Alaska Coalition (503) 285-1900
Erica Maharg, Sierra Club (503) 243-6656
Amy Hojnowski, NET (503) 221-7922 x12
