UPDATE, April 18: A federal appeals court ruled Friday that the Bush administration had failed to adequately evaluate the environmental impact of oil drilling in the ocean north of Alaska, and "halted the program pending a full review," reports the Los Angeles Times.
"Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was in Alaska this week as part of an 'information gathering' tour to help craft a new Outer Continental Shelf drilling policy," reports Elizabeth Arnold of National Public Radio. "After two days of public testimony from those for and against offshore drilling, Salazar pronounced Alaskans passionate and divided."
Melting Arctic ice has made it easier to drill for oil and natural gas in the area. But plans to drill are meeting opposition from rural natives and environmentalists. There is strong support for drilling from Gov. Sarah Palin and the unemployed. "From laborers in hard hats chanting 'jobs, jobs, jobs' to environmentalists dressed as polar bears and puffins, division and emotion over offshore drilling was apparent," writes Arnold.
Just over a year ago oil and natural gas companies bid $2.7 billion for rights to drill in the Chukchi Sea, which lies between Alaska and Russia. In the 1990s, the same rights brought only $7 million. (Read more)
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