Latest study warns of ANWR environmental harm

Sept. 25, 1995
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) warns that opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) Coastal Plain to drilling would damage Alaska's environment more than previously thought. Congress this month is to consider whether to allow leasing of ANWR, which lies east of giant Prudhoe Bay field (OGJ, Aug. 28, p. 33). Interior Sec. Bruce Babbitt has pledged to recommend that President Clinton veto any bill that would allow ANWR leasing. FWS is an Interior Department agency.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) warns that opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) Coastal Plain to drilling would damage Alaska's environment more than previously thought. Congress this month is to consider whether to allow leasing of ANWR, which lies east of giant Prudhoe Bay field (OGJ, Aug. 28, p. 33).

Interior Sec. Bruce Babbitt has pledged to recommend that President Clinton veto any bill that would allow ANWR leasing. FWS is an Interior Department agency.

Sen. Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), who strongly advocates leasing, said, "Sec. Babbitt is clearly opposed to any form of activity in the Coastal Plain, so it is far from a surprise that agencies in his department would now be rushing to prepare reports backing the administration's position."

Contradictory findings

Interior recommended ANWR leasing in a 1987 report, but Deputy Interior Sec. Bob Davison said, "We think the 1987 study's conclusions and recommendations were contradictory." That paper was prepared by the Reagan administration, which favored drilling.

James Kurth, ANWR manager, said in the 8 years since the report, FWS has spent $10 million on further ANWR wildlife studies. He said those studies validated the original report's findings that ANWR development would have significant environmental effects "and expanded our understanding of some of those impacts."

The latest FWS report said the original study was "a highly compartmentalized assessment and considered impacts to species in isolation rather than as interconnected components of a complex ecosystem.

"Further, the major impacts on significant resources predicted in the 1987 report were characterized as acceptable risks in reliance on mitigative measures, some of which are speculative and unproven.

"An examination of biological and historical data indicates that, contrary to the 1987 conclusion, the Arctic Refuge Coastal Plain is unique among refuges and parks of the U.S."

Risks to wildlife

The latest study said full leasing and development of the Coastal Plain would have a major effect on the Porcupine caribou herd. A reduction in calf survival of less than 5%/year would be enough to change an increase in the population to a decline.

Kurth said the herd totaled 152,000 in the latest count. Natives kill several thousand caribou yearly.

The study said caribou use the plain for more calving than the 1987 report depicted. FWS said calving was concentrated on the plain in 10 of the 13 summers in 1983-95.

The latest report predicted drilling would have a major effect on muskoxen, moderate impacts on snow geese and polar bears, and could affect brown bears and fisheries.

It said water is limited on the Coastal Plain, and drilling and ice roads would require large volumes, which could harm fish and waterbirds.

Finally, it said, "Full development of the Coastal Plain would result in the irretrievable loss of the wilderness character of the area.

"The refuge, including the Coastal Plain, is a world class natural area with incomparable and irreplaceable ecological, scientific, historic, and educational values for the American people. It is the outstanding example of remaining American wilderness." Copyright 1995 Oil & Gas Journal. All Rights Reserved.