US Vice-President Al Gore Tuesday pledged that, if elected President, he would never allow oil exploration on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northeastern Alaska. He also said he would oppose any new oil and gas drilling off the coasts of California and Florida and would continue the moratorium against lease sales off the East and West coasts.
The vice-president said he would ban logging and road construction on 43 million acres of undeveloped national forest lands, affirming a proposal that the Clinton administration made 3 weeks ago.
Gore consistently has opposed ANWR exploration.
He pledged to �make it a priority to protect the country�s last remaining wild places. This would mean no more destructive development, new road building, or timber sales in the roadless areas of national forests.� The US Forest Service proposed a ban on road construction on more than 54 million acres, including 43 million acres of inventoried roadless areas within the National Forest System. Oil groups said that would deny producers access to potentially productive areas.
During a speech in Milwaukee on the shore of Lake Michigan, Gore said the US could protect the environment while maintaining economic growth. The League of Conservation endorsed his candidacy.
Gore said, "None of our children should have to worry whether the water they drink is pure or the air they breathe is clean. We have proven, once and for all, that pollution does not have to be the price of prosperity. If Congress ever passes a measure that would unacceptably undermine our environment or weaken critical public health protections, I will veto it."
He promised to act �to reverse the rise in global warming in a way that creates jobs." He said he would aggressively pursue a global market for new energy technology that is expected to reach trillions of dollars over the next 2 decades.
