OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2000

Stephanie Hanna (O) 202/501-4633

STATEMENT OF SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT ON NEW
LEGISLATION BY SENATOR FRANK MURKOWSKI TO PERMIT OIL
EXPLORATION IN THE ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

"I strongly oppose legislation introduced in the Senate today to open the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.

President Clinton has shown great leadership by announcing his intention to veto past Congressional attempts to circumvent the wishes of millions of Americans nationwide who oppose the degradation of their national treasure. These Americans and the Clinton/Gore Administration have made it clear again and again: we will protect this last undeveloped fragment of America's arctic coastline for the thousands of caribou, polar bears, swans, snow geese, musk oxen and countless other species who use it to birth and shelter their young.

There is a time and a place for oil exploration in Alaska, and we have permitted environmentally sensitive oil exploration in a large area of the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska, an area set aside for that purpose. There is a big difference between the designation of a National Petroleum Reserve and a National Wildlife Refuge but some in Congress consistently fail to recognize this fact. So today I am recommending that President Clinton oppose any further Republican Congressional attempts to use legislation to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling."

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