 Murkowski: ANWR Debate Next Week April 12, 2002
Murkowski, while not divulging the details of the amendment whose costs are still being computed, said the amendment will be designed among other purposes to help rejuvenate the U.S. steel industry so it will be capable of producing the pipe needed for an Alaska natural gas pipeline to move Alaska gas to the Lower 48 States. Provisions to benefit construction of the gasline are already included in national energy legislation currently being debated on the Senate floor. Murkowski said he looks forward to the debate over the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge because this nation badly needs new sources of domestic energy to offset our dependence on foreign sources -- imports that threaten our national and economic security. "When we don't control our energy supply, someone else does. As long as that continues we remain vulnerable to the whims of foreign rulers. ANWR offers energy solutions found within our own borders, free from the chaos of the Middle East," said Murkowski. At a later press conference, Murkowski said it is logical to unite an ANWR exploration amendment with help for the U.S. steel industry because the industry needs aid in order to be able to produce the pipe needed for an Alaska natural gas pipeline. "My bottomline is America needs a steel industry. The viability of this industry to our national security is paramount. ...I think we should have this productivity here in our own country. It is a matter of our national security," Murkowski said. "It would be in our interest to have some consideration for American steel. Otherwise you will lose this industry, it is just a matter of time... As I look at it, the primary objective is to rejuvenate the American steel industry," said Murkowski, noting that it will take about 3,000 miles of pipe - estimated to cost between $3.5 billion and $5.2 billion to build a natural gas pipeline to the Lower 48. At an earlier press conference with Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott, Murkowski argued that it's been the Democratic leadership of the Senate that has delayed Senate action on comprehensive energy legislation. "I think the leader's handling of the energy bill is the epitome of obstructionism. The committee tried to work its will... (and) take amendments in an orderly manner and when we had the votes on ANWR to vote it out of committee, Tom Daschle pulled it (from committee) and introduced his own bill. They have also vowed to filibuster the bill over the provision to be offered next week," Murkowski said. "Make no mistake about it, Democrats have proposed no increase in domestic production. That is the fallacy. That is what we have to have and that is the national security exposure of our nation today," said Murkowski, in urging passage of an Arctic exploration amendment. He noted that the Arctic coastal plain likely contains America's largest reserves of oil, containing an estimated 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil.
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