ANWR drilling foe gets heat from Alaska Governor and Congressman

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ANWR drilling foe in House takes heat for no-show

MARKEY: Massachusetts Democrat has never visited Arctic, forgoes Kaktovik

trip.

 

By LIZ RUSKIN

Anchorage Daily News

(Published: April 9, 2003)

 

WASHINGTON -- Undeterred by charges that he didn't have the guts to visit

Alaska's North Slope, Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey vowed to fight

plans to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

 

" This is the No. 1 environmental vote of the year in the United States

Congress, and we intend on making this very close, " Markey, a Democrat, told

reporters Tuesday. " If we win, then it will end the issue forever. "

 

His ANWR sparring foe, Alaska Rep. Don Young, has pledged to fight for

drilling forevermore, so Markey's definitive outcome is hard to imagine.

 

The Senate recently rejected an ANWR development measure, and drilling

supporters there say they aren't even trying to add the proposal to an energy

bill.

 

But the House version of the bill includes a provision to drill on the coast

of the refuge, in the northeastern corner of Alaska. Markey and Rep. Nancy

Johnson, R-Conn., will attempt to remove the ANWR section in a floor debate

expected Thursday.

 

Two years ago, Markey lost a similar vote 206-223, with most Republicans

voting for drilling. Since then, Republicans have increased their numbers in

the House by nine. Still, Johnson said she believed odds for striking the

ANWR language had improved.

 

Markey, a tall, wry man whose New England accent has him debating the

" Ahctic " refuge, is taking grief from drilling proponents for never having

visited the area he speaks about so passionately. House Resources Committee

Chairman Richard Pombo, R-Calif., knocked him for skipping a congressional

field hearing Saturday in Kaktovik, the only community within the refuge.

 

The agenda included a drilling bill and Markey's bill proposing to forever

protect the refuge coastal plain from development.

 

" Had he decided to show up to the hearing ... he would have heard that the

people of Alaska's North Slope overwhelmingly support responsible

exploration, " Pombo said in a written statement.

 

Pombo's spokesman, Doug Heye, gave reporters color photos of Markey's

nameplate in front of an empty chair at the Kaktovik session. Heye suggested

Markey didn't have the nerve to face the people his wilderness bill would

affect. Gov. Frank Murkowski issued a " Where's Markey? " press release.

 

" I know, that's the 'big news' out of the debate, " Markey said, in a tone of

unmistakable eye rolling.

 

He said the field hearing wasn't a sincere inquiry about the future of the

coastal plain since the committee had just voted in favor of drilling.

 

" I felt I was better off staying here, trying to garner the votes to defeat

them on the House floor, " he said.

 

But in the years and years he has opposed drilling in ANWR, why has he never

visited, reporters asked.

 

" I have never been to Yosemite, and I have never been to Yellowstone, " Markey

said. " I don't think that anyone who is an environmentalist should have to

apologize because they ... can't possibly, logistically, visit every single

location in America they believe should retain its pristine natural

condition. "

 

http://www.adn.com/alaska/story/2913138p-2948449c.html