Muskoxen would be just one of many species endangered by drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

A major victory for the environment was won in early November when the U.S. House leadership decided to drop from a budget bill controversial language that would have allowed drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The House Republican leadership was forced to drop the language due to significant opposition from within their own party—including from Pennsylvania Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Michael Fitzpatrick. Protecting the Arctic Refuge has been a top priority for PennEnvironment in recent years, due to the pristine wilderness and unique wildlife that are found in the Refuge—and because drilling in the Refuge will do nothing to solve our current energy problems. While November’s victory was significant, drilling proponents are not expected to give up their attempts to open the Arctic to drilling, and PennEnvironment will work to stop these future attempts as well.

Reports

A new report by PennEnvironment shows that oil spills on Alaska’s North Slope have increased sharply since 2000. The report, released on

September 27, came just weeks before the anticipated vote in Congress over a budget bill expected to include provisions for oil drilling in the Arctic Refuge (see right).

“Our report, ‘Saving America’s Arctic: Dispelling Myths about Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,’ disputes industry claims that oil and gas drilling would not harm an area as pristine and wild as the Arctic Refuge,” said PennEnvironment Field Associate Margaret Hartzell.

According to the report, 550 spills were reported on the North Slope in 2004—one spill every 16 hours.

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