Dear Friend:

Thank you for contacting me. I appreciate hearing your concerns about proposals to allow oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), the largest untouched wildlife refuge in the United States.

Like you, I oppose legislation that would open up this pristine wilderness to drilling. Indeed, I have cosponsored legislation, offered by Senator Lieberman and Congressman Markey, to designate ANWR as a wilderness area in order to preserve this environmental gem for future generations. While our nation must address how to provide affordable energy to our citizens, drilling in ANWR will not solve that problem but simply serve to destroy a fragile and irreplaceable ecosystem

Proponents argue that we need to drill in ANWR to provide a solution to our energy problem. I disagree with that argument for several reasons. First, it would take a decade to produce oil from wells in ANWR and thus drilling there would not offer any short-term relief for American families. Second, even were we to decide it was worth ten year's wait, the ANWR refuge would not provide enough oil to result in lower prices since it would provide only a 6 months supply, according to geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey. Lastly, development of ANWR would not enhance our long-term energy security by significantly decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. In fact, Alaskan oil is not likely to flow into U.S. domestic markets because it is more profitable for oil companies to sell this oil abroad.

Oil and gas development in the ANWR would thus provide only a band-aid to our energy problems but could result in major environmental degradation. Home to over 200 animal species including polar and grizzly bears, wolves, caribou and snow geese, the ANWR coastal plain has more wildlife diversity than any other region of the Arctic. Drilling could disturb the movement of migratory wildlife, contaminate wetlands, and ultimately contaminate this remarkable ecosystem. But the environmental consequences of drilling go well beyond wildlife. Data from the Alaska Department of Conservation show that the Trans-Alaska and Prudhoe Bay oil fields have had an annual average of 409 spills since 1996 of crude oil and other substances.

Although I do not think drilling in ANWR is the answer, we must find a solution to our energy shortages and the consequent high energy prices in the Pacific Northwest. For example, we need to provide incentives to increase energy efficiency and conservation. I am proud that Washington state has been a national leader in promoting its environmental technology industry and I will work to support our state's efforts. In addition, I support enhancing environmentally responsible domestic production as a part of a comprehensive energy policy and improving our energy infrastructure.

Thank you again for contacting me. Please do not hesitate to contact me with further comments.

Sincerely,

Senator Maria Cantwell