Will Congress Sell Out the Arctic Refuge?
Robert Dewey - Defenders of Wildlfie
As denning polar bear mothers care for their newborn cubs, the U.S. House could pass a devastating plan to industrialize the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- the most important onshore denning grounds for these threatened animals that are struggling to survive.
This will be the most important vote on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in five years -- and it will likely happen this week. Please take action now and share this alert with your contacts on Facebook.
Scientists say that America's polar bears could disappear in just a few short decades. But that's not stopping Big Oil's allies in Congress from handing over important polar bear homes for dirty drilling.
It's not just the Arctic Refuge that's at stake. This bill would also open up the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
The House leadership's plan is shady at best. It relies on speculative revenue from oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and coastal waters to close the funding gap in the Transportation Bill.
But what they aren't saying is that even the most generous revenue estimates won't be enough to cover the gap -- and any real revenue won't likely start for ten years as oil companies explore, apply for permits and start development.
It's a sweetheart deal for Big Oil -- and a sellout of one of our most pristine natural areas that provides too little, too late for funding today's transportation needs.
The oil industry and its House leadership allies are pushing harder than ever to industrialize the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a move that would destroy one of the most important places for polar bears and their cubs.
But it's not just our polar bears that need your voice. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of America's most unique natural treasures, supporting a vast array of wildlife including arctic foxes, grizzly bears, muskoxen, Dall sheep, wolves and wolverines. And the coastal areas that this bill would open up to Big Oil are home to sea turtles, dolphins, and other wildlife.
Together, we can protect the Arctic Refuge -- and the special wildlife that depend on it to survive.
Sincerely,
Robert Dewey Vice President, Government Relations Defenders of Wildlife |