ed in a lagging economy, and the amount of oil recovered could help offset what is currently imported from overseas and ease fuel prices.
Although the original land set aside in 1957 was approximately 8.9 million acres, since then the ANWR has been expanded to a total of 19.6 million acres, or about the size of South Carolina (Goldberg 28; Sununu A101; Lavelle 38; Langenkamp B15). Of this land that is set aside, oil exploration is to take place only in the "1002 Area," which is 1.5 million acres -- "less than 8% of the ANWR and .4% of Alaska" (Langenkamp B15). Many claim, however, that the actual "footprint" left by oil exploration and drilling would only be about 2000 acres, or the same size as Dulles Airport, in Washington D.C. (Goldberg 28; Sununu A101). In some cases, new or alternate technology, such as using ice roads, as opposed to constructing traditional roads, will help alleviate any strain that would normally be put upon the environment (Sununu A101). In fact, a study ordered by the secretary of the Interior in 1987 on the possible oil and gas reserves in the area, and the impact drilling would have on this area, concluded that any effect on the coastal plains environment would be minimal while the gains in oil and gas production would be significant (Langenkamp B15).
In comparing Alaska to Oklahoma, Frank Keating, Governor of Oklahoma (R-Oklahoma), discusses the long history of oil production in the state of Oklahoma, whose oil wells "never blew up, leaked or polluted the soil, water or air. Instead, they helped provide relatively cheap energy for generations of Americans" (Keating A19). Keating continues: "Oklahomans know that drilling for oil is not hard on the environment. In fact, Gov. Tony Knowles of Alaska, a Democrat who supports drilling in the Arctic Refuge, is a native Oklahoman who grew up around oil wells" (Keating A19). Keating discusses studies that demonstrate that most leaks that do occur ar...