Today, the Obama Administration announced that they are opening 1.8 million in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve to oil and gas drilling. Apparently, between the Bush and Obama Administrations not much has changed in the handouts our federal government gives to the oil and gas industries at the expense of Americans and future generations. And of course we’ve seen how well drilling protects the environment.
Well, potential bidders, the auction closes August 11th. Who will be the new Bidder 70?
Obama to open 1.8M Alaskan acres to drilling
07/09/2010
Patrick Reis, E&E reporter
The Interior Department today announced plans to open 1.8 million acres of Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve to new oil and gas drilling.
The Bureau of Land Management is selling leases on 190 tracts in the reserve. Bidding will close Aug. 11.
Nearly 1 million acres in and around the reserve’s Teshekpuk Lake were put off-limits to drilling to protect important habitat for migratory birds and the local caribou herd.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the lease sale balances a commitment to energy production with environmental protection.
“This sale reflects the Administration’s continuing efforts to encourage environmentally responsible development of domestic energy resources, including fossil fuels, to reduce our nation’s heavy dependence on imported oil,” Salazar said in a statement. “It also demonstrates our continuing commitment to protect and conserve wildlife and their habitat on sensitive public lands with exceptional ecological value.”
There are currently 310 authorized oil and gas leases on 3 million acres of the National Petroleum Reserve, which sprawls across 23 million acres on the North Slope.
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I think that only people that don’t drive an automobile, or ride a bus or subway, and only walk or ride their bike, and don’t cook or heat with gas or oil, and wear only hand made hemp clothing, should comment on this issue.
I am an oil consumer and it’s up to me to reduce my use so there will be no more drilling. I’m the problem and so are all you that use oil.
So – do we have someone out there willing to do the phony bid thing (and risk jail time)? Or do we have a few million people willing to go somewhere physically to stop it? This is absolutely unacceptable.