ANWR: American Energy

Strictest Environmental Standards

“These would be the most stringent environmental protection requirements ever applied to Federal energy production."
Interior Secretary Gale Norton

ANWR’s leasing plan will be environmentally sound. The Interior Department must administer the leasing program to result in no significant adverse effect on fish and wildlife, their habitat, subsistence resources, or the environment. The Leasing Program will be subject to stringent regulations that, at a minimum, will require:
- Meeting or exceeding environmental mitigation measures established in the prior Environmental Impact Statement (EIS);
- Limiting exploration generally to the period between November and May;
- Imposing seasonal limits to protect breeding, spawning, and wildlife migration patterns;
- Using iceroads, ice airstrips, and other low-impact transportation methods while limiting air traffic to reduce disturbance to fish and wildlife;
- Requiring pipelines and roads to be designed to minimize adverse effects on migratory caribou, other wildlife, and surface water flow;
- Protecting springs, streams, rivers, wetlands, and riparian habitats from the effects of water used in drilling;
- Treating and disposing of all waste products by use of a hazardous materials tracking system and filing an annual report on waste management;
- Educating crew members on environmental protection methods;
- Complying with all applicable air and water quality standards; and
- Utilizing the best commercially available technology for exploration and development.
A new environmental impact statement must be completed before leasing begins. A prior EIS allows the Interior Department to develop regulations for the leasing program. The bill requires the Interior Department to complete a new EIS prior to making the first lease sale.
All drilling activities are subject to site-specific reviews. The Interior Department must analyze each proposed drilling site to determine the impact the activity will have on fish and wildlife. There must be a mitigation plan to minimize any significant adverse effect identified by the site-specific analysis.
Lease Program participants must fully restore affected land. Participants are responsible and liable for reclaiming any lands inside or outside the Coastal Plain that are adversely affected by any aspect of the leasing program. All facilities, structures, and equipment must be removed after the lease expires and the lands must be restored to their pre-lease condition or better. The leases must also include terms relating to protecting fish, wildlife, their habitat, and the general environment.
45,000 acres can be designated “Special Areas” protected from exploration and development. The Secretary will consult with the state and local governments to identify areas of such unique character and interest that they require special management and regulatory protection. The 4,000 acres of Sadlerochit Spring are to be designated a Special Area.


		Strictest Environmental Standards “These would be the most stringent environmental protection requirements ever applied to Federal energy production." Interior Secretary Gale Norton ANWR’s leasing plan will be environmentally sound. The Interior Department must administer the leasing program to result in no significant adverse effect on fish and wildlife, their habitat, subsistence resources, or the environment. The Leasing Program will be subject to stringent regulations that, at a minimum, will require: Meeting or exceeding environmental mitigation measures established in the prior Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); Limiting exploration generally to the period between November and May; Imposing seasonal limits to protect breeding, spawning, and wildlife migration patterns; Using iceroads, ice airstrips, and other low-impact transportation methods while limiting air traffic to reduce disturbance to fish and wildlife; Requiring pipelines and roads to be designed to minimize adverse effects on migratory caribou, other wildlife, and surface water flow; Protecting springs, streams, rivers, wetlands, and riparian habitats from the effects of water used in drilling; Treating and disposing of all waste products by use of a hazardous materials tracking system and filing an annual report on waste management; Educating crew members on environmental protection methods; Complying with all applicable air and water quality standards; and Utilizing the best commercially available technology for exploration and development. A new environmental impact statement must be completed before leasing begins. A prior EIS allows the Interior Department to develop regulations for the leasing program. The bill requires the Interior Department to complete a new EIS prior to making the first lease sale. All drilling activities are subject to site-specific reviews. The Interior Department must analyze each proposed drilling site to determine the impact the activity will have on fish and wildlife. There must be a mitigation plan to minimize any significant adverse effect identified by the site-specific analysis. Lease Program participants must fully restore affected land. Participants are responsible and liable for reclaiming any lands inside or outside the Coastal Plain that are adversely affected by any aspect of the leasing program. All facilities, structures, and equipment must be removed after the lease expires and the lands must be restored to their pre-lease condition or better. The leases must also include terms relating to protecting fish, wildlife, their habitat, and the general environment. 45,000 acres can be designated “Special Areas” protected from exploration and development. The Secretary will consult with the state and local governments to identify areas of such unique character and interest that they require special management and regulatory protection. The 4,000 acres of Sadlerochit Spring are to be designated a Special Area.