Virginia Cramer, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org, 804-518-8449
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- According to reports, Sen. Murkowski has confirmed that a provision opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling is included in the final tax scheme proposal. The provision would effectively remove the sensitive coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from the refuge system, opening the entire 1.5 million acres to drilling. The provision ignores the importance of the area to the Gwich’in Nation, as well as a host of environmental safeguards, and cost realities that make raising the estimated revenue from drilling in the Arctic Refuge nearly impossible.
In response, Athan Manuel, Sierra Club director of public lands protection issued the following statement:
“One of the only ways they could make this horrible bill worse, and even more unpopular, is by adding in a plan to drill in the Arctic Refuge.Murkowski and Republican Leadership have it wrong here. Drilling is not what the American people want. Drilling is not what the Gwich’in Nation deserves. Drilling is not what the future should hold for one of our country’s last great wild places. Congress must vote down this rigged tax scheme.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.