... , the ANWR is the largest reserve in the National Wildlife Refuge. Because of its size, remote location, and the absence of any roads or campsites, it is also one of the wildest protected ecosystems in the U.S. In 1980, this area was protected under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, however in order for conservationists to get the act passed they were forced to ... leave one area open to future oil exploration. This 1.5 million acre section of coastal plains is known as the 1002 Area, and is the cause of the debate over whether or not to drill for oil. This ... East a...

• Word Count: 1462
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... small accidents are bound to occur. In an area where memories of the massive Exxon Valdez oil spill are still eminent, some people wonder if the amount of oil is worth the potential risk (Kaiser). Conservation groups claim that spills in the Refuge similar to the ones around ... in Arctic road construction that have been used in Prudhoe have eliminated the need for gravel access roads used in the development of oil fields. Instead of constructing a complex and permanent transportation system, roads are now made from ocean water pumped onto the tundra, where it freezes ... an ocean (alas...

• Word Count: 1721
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate