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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2002

Opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil and gas development will gain an added push under Republican control of the Senate.

Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) will be the new chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He supports greater development of federal lands, including ANWR.

Other environmental issues are also at stake now that Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) replaces Independent Jim Jeffords as head of the Environment and Public Works Committee. The Washington Post describes Inhofe as "one of their least-liked lawmakers" who has criticized environmental initiatives.

Both lawmakers could shepherd changes to key environmental laws, observers fear. Domenici wants to limit court challenges to environmental decisions. Inhofe plans to review enforcement of clean air laws and other protections.

In related news, Department of Interior Solicitor Bill Myers has targeted the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act for changes. He said both have become burdens to the administration.

Get the Story:
Oil, Air, Energy Laws In Play (The Washington Post 11/18)
Democratic Filibuster Hope Fades (The New York Times 11/18)
Username: indianz.com, Password: indianz.com
Election bodes well for ANWR drilling supporters (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 11/17)
Interior Department's top lawyer takes aim at environmental laws (AP 11/15)

Relevant Links:
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

Related Stories:
Energy development bill derailed (11/14)