On March 16, in a 51–49 vote, the Senate passed an FY07 budget resolution that may lead to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). The battle for the refuge now moves to the House, which is expected to take up its own FY07 budget resolution the week of March 26th. If passed, the bill will open a portion of the 20-million-acre refuge to oil and natural gas development. According to the Anchorage Daily News, the provision for energy exploration in the ANWR looks "identical" to the one that Republican leaders in the House dropped from the budget bill in November 2005. Whether the resolution will pass in tact through the House is unclear. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that drilling opponents believe they have enough votes to block the provision from being included the budget.
Related articles:
Weekly Indigenous News: Alaska Natives Mount Resistance to Latest ANWR Drilling Legislation
Weekly Indigenous News: UNITED STATES: House halts ANWR drilling measure
Weekly Indigenous News: Gwich'in Human Rights Threatened by ANWR Drilling
Weekly Indigenous News: Drilling in the Artic Uncertain, Opponents Have Hope
