{"articles":[{"id":5653,"title":"Trump May Allow Seismic Oil Exploration in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge","html_content":"

by Causes | 7.25.18

The story

The Trump administration is reportedly considering an oilfield services company’s proposal to “conduct seismic testing for oil and gas in the Arctic national wildlife refuge,” according to The Guardian.

Why it matters

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is the largest such preserve in the U.S., and biologists and environmentalists have long argued that oil and gas exploration there would harm a pristine wilderness that is important for natural diversity.

Proponents of ANWR exploration say it’s important for U.S. energy and economic security.

Alaska’s senators and representative favor opening ANWR to oil and gas drilling, which could bring substantial revenue to the state. As a possible indicator, a provision in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that opened a portion of the non-wilderness coastal plain of ANWR to energy development is projected to raise $1.1 billion in tax revenue over the 10-year budget window.

The current proposal involves deploying “shakers” – diesel-powered equipment that sends seismic tremors across the landscape – along Alaska’s coastline to map underground hydrocarbon deposits.

In April, the Interior Department commissioned an expedited environmental review of the impact of leasing the land for oil and gas drilling. Critics say the compressed timeline doesn't allow for a proper evaluation of environmental impact.

Previous efforts

Arctic drilling has been a chaotic proposition for oil companies in the past, with significant safety and environmental lapses plaguing previous projects.

With the massive costs associated with Arctic exploration, oil and gas companies tend to pursue such projects only in a high oil price environment, which the Trump administration is trying to combat.

What do you think?

Should ANWR be opened to oil and gas exploration? Why or why not? Hit Take Action to tell your reps what you think, then share your thoughts below.

—Sara E. Murphy

(Photo Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via Flickr / Creative Commons)

","image_urls":{"large":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/mp0vD2D4/f7bc14/CaribouANWR.jpg","medium":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/mp0vD2D4/f7bc14/CaribouANWR.jpg","small":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/mp0vD2D4/f7bc14/CaribouANWR.jpg","thumb":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/mp0vD2D4/f7bc14/CaribouANWR.jpg","xsmall":"https://ul.countable.us/ul/q_auto/uploads/mp0vD2D4/f7bc14/CaribouANWR.jpg"},"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/articles/5653-trump-allow-seismic-oil-exploration-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge","article_comments":"https://www.causes.com/api/articles/5653-trump-allow-seismic-oil-exploration-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge/comments"},"comment_count":141,"action_count":602,"cta_prompt":null,"cta_type":"contact_reps","share_count":19,"published_at":"2018-07-25T17:10:56.236Z","is_countable_article":true,"allow_advocacy":true,"profile_id":1,"signed":false,"signatures_count":null,"signatures_goal":100,"signable_progress":0,"video_url":null,"video_dimensions":null,"video_aspect_ratio":null}],"users":[{"name":"Bonnie","vote_count":1128,"photos":{"large":"https://graph.facebook.com/1083961992/picture?width=150&height=150","small":"https://graph.facebook.com/1083961992/picture?width=75&height=75","tiny":"https://graph.facebook.com/1083961992/picture?width=20&height=20","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/1083961992/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/4mKoNL0m/following","followers":"/api/users/4mKoNL0m/followers"},"about_me":null,"twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":null,"issue_count":2,"is_following":null,"influence_score":240,"influence_level":20,"follower_count":10,"following_count":3,"position_count":18,"id":"4mKoNL0m","partner_id":null},{"name":"singinghawk926","vote_count":1314,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/e9XVJAZw/large_e9xvjazw-1501516896.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/e9XVJAZw/small_e9xvjazw-1501516896.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/e9XVJAZw/tiny_e9xvjazw-1501516896.jpg","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/1265235940/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/e9XVJAZw/following","followers":"/api/users/e9XVJAZw/followers"},"about_me":"Former Manhattenite theatrical professional and nonprofit fundraiser, born, raised and educated in Florida, recently retired from critical care nursing at UCLA. Independent progressive, fiscal moderate, former Democrat. Proud adopted grandma to three beautiful Mexican-Americans who have changed my life.","twitter_id":"@Singinghawk926","facebook_id":"singinghawk926@gmail.com","youtube_id":"singinghawk926@gmail.com","google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"singinghawk926","issue_count":108,"is_following":null,"influence_score":15670,"influence_level":40,"follower_count":422,"following_count":7168,"position_count":426,"id":"e9XVJAZw","partner_id":null},{"name":"verymary","vote_count":261,"photos":{"large":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/jZB7LVzm/large_jzb7lvzm-1499124110.jpg","small":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/jZB7LVzm/small_jzb7lvzm-1499124110.jpg","tiny":"https://assets.causes.com/user/avatar/jZB7LVzm/tiny_jzb7lvzm-1499124110.jpg","facebook":"https://graph.facebook.com/2844332425584778/picture"},"links":{"following":"/api/users/jZB7LVzm/following","followers":"/api/users/jZB7LVzm/followers"},"about_me":"I'm a writer and a teacher in a community college that does not value the diversity of its student body or the abilities of its seasoned instructors. Wounded veterans constitute a significant percentage of my students, as do minorities and international students. I suppose I had naively imagined that progress had been made on social issues during the 1970s, but everything negative seems to be hanging around, and the new administration in Washington worries and offends me. I feel compelled to voice my concerns because America cannot survive without reason, compassion, and an energetic sense of humor.","twitter_id":null,"facebook_id":null,"youtube_id":null,"google_plus_id":null,"website":null,"slug":"verymary","issue_count":13,"is_following":null,"influence_score":4690,"influence_level":30,"follower_count":174,"following_count":484,"position_count":155,"id":"jZB7LVzm","partner_id":null}],"article_comment":{"flagged":false,"id":491984,"body":"Please, please fight this! Seismic drilling is dangerous for the workers when working in an area with permafrost, and you’re violating a sanctified wildlife refuge !!","parent_type":"Article","parent_id":5653,"created_at":"2018-07-27T14:26:41.281Z","liked":false,"like_count":2,"links":{"self":"https://www.causes.com/comments/491984","likers":"https://www.causes.com/api/v1/likers?likeable_id=491984&likeable_type=Comment"},"article_id":5653,"shareable_image_url":"https://n.causes.com/share-images/comments/491984.png","note":{},"note_text":false,"note_color":false,"user_id":"4mKoNL0m","liker_ids":["e9XVJAZw","jZB7LVzm"]}}

Like Causes?

Comment Liked by 2 Users