This remote and largely untouched area is an example of an arctic ecosystem that, by virtue of being essentially intact, is increasingly rare. It is an important habitat for musk oxen, migratorywaterfowl, vast numbers of caribou, and predators such as grizzly bears, polar bears, wolves, andgolden eagles. Its development could help reduce America's energy dependenceto some degree and keep the Alaska pipeline in use for decades -- benefitting the national economy,the oil industry, and people in Alaska. Likewise, opposition to energy development continues to be strong, basedon concern for the area's wilderness values and wildlife. Shaded Relief Map of Northeastern Alaska. Rather, it provides background and basic material for analyzing possibilities and implications ofemerging options. Two considerations might be noted at this point. Introduction

The debate over whether to open the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge(ANWR) to energy leasing has raged for decades, with the main periods of controversy occurringin the late 1950s before the refuge was established; the period 1977-1980 at the passage of theAlaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act; 1987 when the Final Legislative EnvironmentalImpact Statement (FLEIS) was released; the early 1990s during the Persian Gulf War; and the currentdebate, which began months before the attacks on New York and Washington, but was certainlyheated by those events. The issue has been debated several times since 1980. The report does not attempt to focus on specific legislative issues, bills,or provisions, but rather attempts to provide a baseline for analyzing such proposals. The executive branch was to conduct a comprehensive baseline study ofthe fish and wildlife resources of the coastal plain of the Refuge; to developguidelines for, initiate, and monitor an oil and gas exploration program; to preparea report to the Congress on the biological resources, the extent of hydrocarbonresources, the impacts of development, transportation of oil and gas, and the need forthem; and to make a recommendation on whether exploration, development, andproduction should proceed. As the years have passed, new fields in the area have been discovered, developed, and produced. The Meaning of Footprints. Resources: Status, Current Regulation, and Potential Effects of Development

While much is still unknown regarding both the biological and geologicalresources of the 1002 area, much has also been learned during 40 years of debateover the Refuge. (44) The potential for oil in the1002 area has been a focus of thatattention. Estimates of Prudhoe Bay Complex. Migratory Birds. It too is listed as threatened under ESA. Other Species. If Congress opened ANWR, it could choose to afford special protections to special areas. ANWR -- 
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge; also called "the Refuge." If Congress were toallow for energy development in ANWR, the price of oil would come intoplay in the decision to explore for and develop resources in the extremeconditions of the North Slope. GNP -- 
Gross National Product.
The rich biological resources and wilderness values of northeastern Alaska have been widely known for about 50 years, and the rich energy resource potential for much of that time. The futureof these resources has been debated in Congress for over 40 years. The issue for Congress is whetherto open a portion of what is now the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to allow thedevelopment of potentially the richest on-shore source of oil remaining in the United States, and ifso under what restrictions. Alternatively, Congress might choose to provide further protection forthe Refuge's biological and wilderness resources through statutory wilderness designation or tomaintain the current status of the area. Under current law, if Congress chooses not to act, the entireRefuge will remain closed to development under provisions of the 1980 Alaska National InterestLands Conservation Act.
The coastal northern plain of the Refuge is the focus of debate. This remote and largely untouched area is an example of an arctic ecosystem that, by virtue of being essentially intact, isincreasingly rare. It has been called "America's Serengeti", for the vast herd of caribou, for the manynesting and feeding migratory birds, and for its predators such as grizzly bears, polar bears, wolves,and golden eagles.
The area also is an immensely promising oil prospect, which some feel could be as productive as Prudhoe Bay. It is heralded as a place which could help reduce national dependence on foreignoil and keep the Alaskan oil pipeline in use for decades. Advocates for development foresee benefitsto the oil industry, the people of Alaska, and the national economy.
For over 20 years, the debate over energy development in the Refuge has been highly polarized and remains so. President George W. Bush is committed to opening the Refuge to development,citing unrest in the Middle East among his reasons. And opposition to development remains strong,as opponents point to other means of achieving national energy goals.
This report does not analyze specific proposals to develop or protect the Refuge. Rather, it provides basic material for analyzing possibilities and implications of the major issues that have beenthe focus of the legislative debate over its fate. This report will be updated as events warrant.