The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska

The world is filled with umteen natural wonders, and hotshot of these marvels is the frozen home(a) Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska. Its 19. 6 cardinal acres comprise slightly of the destination truly undisturbed state of nature, and the area has stock-still out been called the crown jewel of the Statess repair system. This refuge is composed of a far-reaching stretch of tundra cover with marshes and lagoons and intertwined with rivers spectacularly positioned among the foothills of the black eyecapped Brooks Mountain clip and the sparkling waters of the Beaufort Sea, presenting an awe-inspiring spectacle (Defenders of Wildlife, 2001a).It was beca workout of this kayo that ANWR was set-aside as government land. Originally, the north nearly lurch of Alaska was just apply for forces purposes, and the public was non allowed on each of its 48. 8 cardinal acres during field War II. But in 1952-1953, some government scientists decided that this area of Alaska shoul d adopt a conservation area. So, Fred Seaton, the Secretary of the Interior, make 8. 9 million acres of the newton Slope into the Arctic depicted object Wildlife flap to protect it. A lot of cover was found throughout the newton Slope in the following days, so many a(prenominal) an opposite(prenominal) a(prenominal) wanted to drill for cover in the Arctic National Wildlife Range.In the Alaska National Inte detain Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA 1980), most of the Range plus more than of the normality Slope was designated as natural state and called the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, Section 1002 of ANILCA decided the disperse of the Range not considered state of nature should be part of ANWR, although it mustiness be researched onward it was decided whether or not it should be designated as wilderness or used for anele evolution. This disputed section is called the 1002 battleground (Alaska wilderness confederacy 2003a Ecological connection of A merica, 2002 Gibbs, 2001 U.S. tip and Wildlife Service, 2000b). Studies conducted in the 1002 subject showed that embrocate and gas organic evolution would precedent cracking harm to its wildlife (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000b). Unfortunately, the oil companies do not seem to see the knockout of this wild area, only the possible pull ahead in it. The oil industry would lock in like to drill in the 1002 sphere (the coastal theatre of operations), an area of 1. 5 million acres between the Arctic sea and the Brooks Range (Alaska Wilderness fusion 2003a Ecological Society of America, 2002 Gibbs, 2001 Sierra Club, 2001).However, the coastal complain is vital to the continued instauration of many organisms and is full of life during the wretched spring and summer months, giving it the moniker Americas Serengeti (Alaska Wilderness league 2003a Alaska Wilderness partnership 2003b Defenders of Wildlife, 2001b). The Porcupine River caribou lot of about 130,000 goe s to the coastal Plain on an annual basis to bear and nurse their novel before migrating to warmer climates (Alaska Wilderness partnership 2003b Gibbs, 2001 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000b Roth, 1995).Polar bears use it as their most vital denning area on land (Alaska Wilderness league 2003b Roth, 1995). Musk oxen, gray-headed bears, wolves, wolverines, foxes, golden eagles, and snowy owls assemble at that place to stalk their prey and build their dens. Dall sheep, whales, moose, 36 fish species, and eight other naval mammals thrive in the region, too. About 300,000 snow geese likewise stop on that point in the fall to eat after attack from their nearing grounds in Canada (Alaska Wilderness League 2003a U. S. Fish &Wildlife Service, 2002).Another 135 species of birds use the land to breed, nest, raise their young, feed, or rest before they transmigrate to areas throughout the get together States and beyond (Alaska Wilderness League 2003b Babbitt, 1995). The 1002 firmament is home to a variety of wildlife. So, boring should not cash in ones chips in the 1002 Area be effort it would be detrimental to the animals living in that respect. oil color teaching could hurt the wildlife in many ways. The emissions from aircrafts, scents of workers, and the noise of vehicles and other engines could displace the animals (Gibbs, 2001). roadstead and pipelines would also displace the wildlife be hold their normal routes would be blocked (Alaska Wilderness League, 2003b). Drilling would cause great harm to the animals that rely on the Coastal Plain of ANWR. Additionally, the 135 species of birds that nest and feed in the 1002 Area would be affected. umpteen of the birds would lose critical habitat, cause cosmos declines for already small cosmoss. Also, the oil fields would attract predators, further sour their amount (Audubon, 2002).Other studies around the other Alaskan oil fields have shown tundra swans to nest over 650 feet from the roads (Gi bbs, 2001). Many of the other migratory birds are also sensitive to disturbances, and oil production in ANWR would interrupt migration patterns that have been occurring for many years (Alaska Wilderness League 2003b). The migratory species would shake the effects with them throughout the world (UNEP, 2001). reindeer are also sensitive to disturbances. reindeer with young stay at least 2. 5 miles away from roads (Gibbs, 2001).So, the caribou would be pushed into the foothills of the Brooks Range, an area with more predators (Ecological Society of America, 2002). A computer clay sculpture estimated that calf survival of the fittest would be bring down about 14 portion by oil production in ANWR (Gibbs, 2001). And, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service believes that lowering the calf survival by only five percent would cause the Porcupine caribou herd to suffer population declines (Alaska Wilderness League 2003b). The musk oxens population would also drop, too. They live on the Coa stal Plain year-round (Montgomery, 2003).They essential to conserve their energy and move very diminished to live on the Coastal Plain in the winter because there is little to eat, and it is very cold. The musk oxen would be forced off of the 1002 Area by drilling, and the Department of the Interior thinks this would lower their population 25 to 50 percent (Alaska Wilderness League 2003). The polar bears pick up the Coastal Plain to continue their current population numbers as well. It is necessitate for gravid polar bears to nest upon and raise their cubs. The cubs need to be protected in their dens for triple months.Any sort of disturbance would cause them to leave their dens early, which would harm their newborn cubs (Alaska Wilderness League 2003b). Bowhead whales also migrate past the Coastal Plain. They are needed by the Kaktoviks (the people indigenous to the North Slope) for food and cultural activities. However, the oil development occurring presently has already displaced them 9 to 15 miles from any noise (Montgomery, 2003). So, the Kaktoviks need areas without drilling to continue their subsistence way of life. Furthermore, all of the aquatic animals (including bowhead whales and polar bears) would be greatly harmed by an oil vent.Development in the waters is not significant as of yet, but if more development occurs on land, then more development whitethorn occur offshore. Many animals are very vulnerable to the effects of an oil spill, so more development should not occur (Montgomery, 2003). In addition to harming wildlife, oil development would harm the physical purlieu as well. The drilling west of the refuge (near Prudhoe Bay) has already done considerable damage. It has turned four hundred square miles of undisturbed wilderness into 1500 miles of roads and pipelines, 1400 wells, three airports, 17 sewage word plants, and hundreds of large waste pits.The drilling has carry out into the environment more that 43,000 tons of northward oxides each year, contributing to smog and dose rain production, and 100,000 metric tons of methane that leads to spheric warming. There have been about 1,600 spills containing 1. 2 million gallons of oil, diesel fuel, dot, drilling fluid, and many other harmful substances between 1994 and 1999 (Indigenous environmental Network, 2001). There is about one spill each day (Alaska Wilderness League 2003c). All of this could occur in ANWR if the oil companies get what they want.And, you would think that there must be a gold mine of oil to a lower place the 1002 Area if they would cede such an important area of land. However, the U. S. geologic Survey predicts there is only comely oil beneath the Coastal Plain to sustain the energy needs of America for six months (Alaska Wilderness League 2003a Alaska Wilderness League 2003c). The Department of the Interior has estimated that there is only a one-in-five chance of purpose any economically recoverable oil in the refuge (Roth, 1995). It is not expense ruining a pristine wilderness supporting many animals for very little oil that may not even be economically recoverable. Not only is there little oil under the Coastal Plain, it is also found in only small accumulations rather than one large oil field (like Prudhoe Bay). So, there would have to be more development areas, increasing the effect on the wildlife and environment (Ecological Society of America, 2002). Overall, the drilling would cause a lot of damage. A pristine wilderness would be turned into a noisy, polluted, certain area.Millions of species of animals would be harmed. They would no longer be able to use the Coastal Plain to feed, mate, nest, and hunt. They would be forced onto marginal lands, and their numbers would be negatively affected (Alaska Wilderness League 2003b Gibbs, 2001 U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2000b). And, the drilling could cause many environmental problems, including global warming, smog, and acid rain (Indigenous Environmen tal Network, 2001). Plus, the drilling would not even solve the energy problems in the U. S. So, drilling in ANWR should be prevented