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JUNE 18, 2001

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has tapped two pro-drilling advocates to serve as her special assistants for Alaska affairs.

One is Camden Toohey, the director of Arctic Power, a pro-drilling lobbying firm. His firm has received $3.75 million in state funding for its lobbying efforts.

The other is State Sen. Drue Pearce, who once worked for Arctic Slope Regional Corp., an Alaska Native corporation which supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

The positions serve to address special issues Alaskans face such as oil and gas development and Native affairs.

Norton is in Alaska for a four-day visit. Today, she will meet with leaders of Arctic Village, a Gwich'in community on the southern edge of ANWR. The Gwich'in Nation opposes drilling.

Get the Story:
Norton tabs Pearce, Toohey (The Anchorage Daily News 6/17)
ANWR lobbyist won't give up (The Anchorage Daily News 6/16)

Relevant Links:
Gwich'in Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
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:
Gwich'in Nation blind-sided by Norton visit (6/15)
GOP faces last day in power (6/5)
Shift in Senate means changes for Indian Country (5/25)
Norton: Indian Country won't get ripped off (5/24)
Alaska Natives square off over Arctic drilling (5/18)
Campbell: Alaska Natives support drilling (4/25)
Gwich'in Nation: We Come from the Caribou (4/4)
GOP Senators unveil drilling proposal (2/27)