The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, including the coastal plain, was first established by an act of Congress in 1960 under the leadership of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This land was protected from industrial development as a promise to the American people to preserve wildlife, wilderness and recreation in this unique arctic habitat.

Americans have a choice to continue the current practice of short term hunter-gathering fossil fuels for energy, or to develop long term clean energy sources which also exist abundantly in the USA. This 12-minute video about the Arctic Refuge by Treasure America explores the present option of choosing between polluting fossil fuels or moving ahead to using renewable energy sources and new technologies... WATCH THE 12 MINUTE VIDEO

There already exists an established, prosperous, and internationally respected economy of sustainable eco-tourism, guided hunting, recreation, air taxis and subsistence hunting directly related to the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. This vibrant economy has developed and diversified progressively since 1960.

The Inupiat peoples native to the north slope of Alaska depend on subsistence hunting of sea and land animals. The village of Kaktovik is located entirely within the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge and is 88% Inupiat Eskimo. In April, 2005, 57 voting age residents of Kaktovik signed a petition against oil development in the Arctic Refuge. Only 98 residents of Kaktovik voted in the 2004 presidential election. A September 28, 2005 report on the economy of Kaktovik by Alaska Public Radio Network includes interviews with local tour operators... LISTEN TO REPORT

The Gwichin Athabascan peoples native to areas south and east of the Arctic Refuge depend on subsistence hunting of land mammals which feed and calve on the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge, specifically the Porcupine caribou herd of approximately 123, 000 animals. The Gwichin nations in the USA and Canada are unanimously opposed to leasing of the Arctic Refuge coastal plain for many documented reasons.

The United States has entered into international agreements with ajoining nations to protect habitat for polar bears, bowhead whales and caribou which rely on the complete and healthy eco-systems still found on the Arctic Refuge coastal plain and adjacent off-shore areas.

It is acknowledged that the US Geological Survey estimates that oil and gas reserves may be present in strata below the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge. However, it is also acknowledged that the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the National Academy of Sciences have both conducted extensive studies of the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge to establish baseline populations of wildlife and the anticipated impacts of oil leasing on the same. These studies conclude that the impacts of oil and gas production facilties on the coastal plain eco-system will be significant due to: the requirements of land for employee and production facilities, gravel mines and roads, fresh water for ice roads, noise, air pollution, vehicle traffic, air strips, boat harbors, and pipelines.

The current Governor of Alaska, Frank Murkowski, has clearly indicated that leasing the Arctic Refuge will expedite and facilitate development of offshore oil leases in the adjacent Beaufort Sea. The current Mayor of the North Slope Borough, which includes the Village of Kaktovik, is George Ahmaogak, an Inupiaq Eskimo. Mayor Ahmaogak is very concerned about the impacts of offshore oil development and has stated publicly, "until the oil industry can prove its ability to clean up a spill in challenging ice conditions, companies should not be allowed to drill in the Beaufort Sea."

The oil industry has yet to demonstrate a proven and reliable method of cleaning up a spill of toxic crude oil under arctic ice conditions in the Beaufort Sea which adjoins the Arctic Refuge. This marine habitat sustains cornestone species critical to the survival of whales, seals, walrus, polar bears, sea birds, fish and shellfish. The oil industry already employs, in other areas of the Beaufort Sea (Northstar Field), the use of gravel islands and sub-sea crude oil pipelines which inhibit inspections and repairs in arctic ice and wind conditions. Sub-sea pipelines extend long distances buried in shallow waters where the potential over time for damage from sea ice gouging is very real.

The long term effects on marine life of toxic crude oil spilled in Prince William Sound on March 24,1989 are now well documented by credible scientists and federal agencies, and more than 16 years after the spill these effects continue to persist and prevent the recovery of cornerstone species that sustain fish, sea mammals and birds.