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MARCH 28, 2001

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton and a number of Senators will visit Alaska to tour the North Slope and the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) this week.

Senator Frank Murkowski (R-Alaska), a proponent of oil and gas development in ANWR, is arranging the meeting. As of Tuesday, he said seven Senators have agreed to make the visit, although The Denver Post says six will make the trip, including Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.)

Norton, who also supports drilling, will meet with Inupiat Eskimos of Kaktovik and Nuiqsut. The Inupiat in the area support drilling because it will provide economic benefits.

Norton and the rest of the group may or may not meet with Gwich'in Alaska Natives, who oppose drilling.

Get the Story:
Senators set sights on ANWR (The Anchorage Daily News 3/28)
Norton to visit Alaska wildlife refuge (The Denver Post 3/28)

Relevant Links:
Oil Issues in ANWR, US Fish and Wildlife - http://arctic.fws.gov/issues1.html
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

Related Stories:
Good for the caribou, Good for the Gwich'in (Enviro 3/27)
Arctic drilling opponent changes mind (Enviro 3/20)
'Racist' drilling billboards scrapped (Enviro 3/19)
Interior employee fired for Arctic map (Enviro 3/19)
Bush vows change in lands attitude (Enviro 3/14)
Energy pal named to Interior post (Politics 3/9)
GOP Senators unveil drilling proposal (Enviro 2/27)
Norton makes case for Arctic drilling (Enviro 02/13)