The Honorable Senators ____________________________________________
The U.S. Senate
U.S. Capitol Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Representative _____________________________
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Members of Congress,

Like most Americans, I am disheartened our elected officials failed to hear the voice of constituents who vehemently oppose drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

On March 16, 2005, the Senate approved budget legislation that embodies revenues from oil rigs in the Arctic Refuge. Senator Maria Cantwell’s (D-WA) amendment to delete this inappropriate drilling language from the budget bill was defeated. No administration in modern history has ever pursued such an environmentally destructive and unpopular agenda.

The U.S. government is poised to release 1.5 million acres of untouched wilderness to oil and natural gas developers after 25 years of immunity. I ask my representative to do everything possible to keep Arctic drilling language out of the House budget resolution.

I encourage my representative and senators to cosponsor legislation (S. 261 and H.R. 567) to declare the coastal plain of the ANWR a wilderness area.

Please weigh the irreversible impact of oil and gas exploration and development in an unspoiled ecosystem. A labyrinth of drill pads, pipelines, roads and housing will disrupt and harm the caribou, polar bears, musk oxen, grizzly bears, wolves, snow geese, and millions of migratory birds who inhabit this biologically diverse terrain.

Moreover, Arctic drilling diverts focus from America’s real energy problems. It won’t tangibly decrease our reliance on overseas oil or reduce gas rates. In fact, government scientists believe only six months of economically redeemable oil lies in the coastal plain. The U. S. Geological Survey estimates that oil would not become available to consumers for at least a decade.

Are these unpromising figures really worth the defilement of a treasured wildlife refuge? Please contest President Bush’s reckless energy policy. I am counting on you to exclude Arctic drilling provisions from federal budget legislation and to support companion bills S. 261 and H.R. 567 that classify the ANWR coastal plain as federal wilderness.

Thank you,