ENVIRONMENT REPORT - Arctic Refuge Drilling

By Cynthia Kirk
ENVIRONMENT REPORT - April 26, 2002: Arctic Refuge Drilling

This is the VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT.

The Democratic-controlled United States Senate has voted to block exploration for oil and gas in the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in the state of Alaska. Last week, the Senate rejected an attempt to bring to a vote an
amendment¹ allowing drilling holes in the ground to search for oil in the protected area.

This was a serious defeat for President Bush. Drilling for oil in the wildlife refuge in
Alaska was an important part of his energy program.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge covers almost eight-million hectares of land.
Republican members of the Senate wanted legislation to permit oil exploration in
part of the refuge. Scientists believe eighty percent of the oil is in that area.

Supporters of the plan said it would have reduced oil imports. The United States
imports about sixty percent of its oil. Supporters of the plan also said any risks to
wildlife in the area could be reduced by restricting and closely supervising the
drilling.

Environmental groups and many Democrats² in Congress opposed drilling in the

area. They said it would destroy the area and harm wildlife such as caribou³, musk⁴
oxen and some kinds of birds. They also said that the United States could reach the same goal of reducing oil
imports by producing vehicles that use less fuel.

Congress currently has a ban on oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge. However, the Republican-led House of Representatives passed an energy
bill last year that would permit drilling.

A recent American government study suggested that oil exploration in part of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge would not harm animals. Administration officials
had ordered the latest study after a twelve-year government study found that oil
exploration could harm caribou and other wildlife in the refuge. The United States
Geological Survey carried out both studies. The latest study examined drilling
possibilities in limited areas of the coastal⁵ plain.

Experts do not know how much oil is underground in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Estimates are between
three-thousand-million and sixteen-thousand-million barrels.

However, a recent Energy Department report suggested that oil from the refuge would have resulted in only a
small reduction in American oil imports.

This VOA Special English ENVIRONMENT REPORT was written by Cynthia Kirk.

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1 amendment   

n.改正，修正，改善，修正案

参考例句：

• The amendment was rejected by 207 voters to 143.这项修正案以207票对143票被否决。
• The Opposition has tabled an amendment to the bill.反对党已经就该议案提交了一项修正条款。

2 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 caribou   

n.北美驯鹿

参考例句：

• Afar off he heard the squawking of caribou calves.他听到远处有一群小驯鹿尖叫的声音。
• The Eskimos played soccer on ice and used balls filled with caribou hair and grass.爱斯基摩人在冰上踢球，他们用的是驯鹿的毛发和草填充成的球。

4 musk   

n.麝香, 能发出麝香的各种各样的植物，香猫

参考例句：

• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。
• She scented her clothes with musk.她用麝香使衣服充满了香味。

5 coastal   

adj.海岸的，沿海的，沿岸的

参考例句：

• The ocean waves are slowly eating away the coastal rocks.大海的波浪慢慢地侵蚀着岸边的岩石。
• This country will fortify the coastal areas.该国将加强沿海地区的防御。