The Senate passed $453.3 billion military spending bill on Wednesday after removing a provision to authorize drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Alaska drilling was doomed after Senate Democrats led a filibuster against the provision. A vote to break the filibuster was 56-44, four short of the 60 needed.

Only Democrats Daniel Akaka and Daniel Inouye of Hawaii, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Ben Nelson of Nebraska voted to break the filibuster. Akaka and Inouye, both members of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, support drilling in ANWR.

The House version of the defense bill still contains the drilling provision. The House is scheduled to reconvene today to pass a new version without ANWR.

Alaska Natives are divided on the issue. Inupiat Eskimos, who own surface and mineral rights in ANWR, support drilling. The Gwich'in Nation opposes development out of fear it will harm the Porcupine caribou herd that migrates through ANWR.

The Arctic Slope Regional Corp., which owns the subsurface rights, won't have to share revenues with the other Alaska Native regional corporations due to a secret land deal negotiated with the Reagan administration.

Get the Story:
Senate Blocks Arctic Drilling Provision (The Washington Post 12/21)
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Senate Blocks Alaska Refuge Drilling (AP 12/22)
And the Saga on Arctic Oil Drilling Continues (The Washington Post 12/22)
Senate Rejects Bid for Drilling in Arctic Area (The New York Times 12/22)
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Arctic Drilling Opponents Cheer Nip-and-Tuck Vote (The New York Times 12/22)

Relevant Links:
Arctic Slope Regional Corp - http://www.asrc.com
Gwic'hin Steering Committee - http://www.alaska.net/~gwichin
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Willdife Service - http://arctic.fws.gov
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Pro-Development site - http://www.anwr.org

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