[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S11284]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA OPPOSITION TO ANWR DRILLING

 Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I ask that a statement by David 
Foster of the United Steelworkers of America be printed in the Record.
  The statement follows:

     Opposition To Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

       Intelligent approaches to energy development are needed at 
     a time when energy security, economic development, and 
     environmental protection are more important than ever.
       USWA District #11 represents thousands of workers in the 
     Pacific Northwest's energy-intensive aluminum industry where 
     40% of the nation's aluminum capacity is located. The recent 
     West Coast energy crisis that resulted in the shutdown of all 
     ten of that region's aluminum smelters awakened our union to 
     the need for a comprehensive energy policy based on sound 
     environmental principles. We are currently working to help 
     transition the industry to a cleaner, safer, and more 
     dependable mix of energy sources that will help preserve 
     industrial jobs in the United States and lead the industry 
     toward energy self-sufficiency.
       I believe that the best long-term solution to retaining 
     aluminum jobs in the Northwest is 1) by reducing demand 
     through energy efficiency and conservation, and 2) by 
     increasing the supply of diversified energy sources including 
     clean, renewable energy generated by wind, solar, and 
     geothermal power. This combination would minimize the 
     environmental impacts related to energy extraction and use, 
     create good, family-wage jobs, and protect consumers from 
     supply disruptions and price fluctuations.
       Consequently, I am convinced that drilling for oil in the 
     Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is not a sensible option. 
     Rather, it is a shortsighted remedy that is unreliable, 
     environmentally unsound, and fraught with economic 
     shortcomings. As a better alternative, I would encourage the 
     building of a new natural gas pipeline where existing 
     supplies of natural gas can be captured.
       In particular, I would recommend that the infrastructure 
     for a gas pipeline be developed on the North Slope to bring 
     to market gas currently being shunted back into the ground or 
     flared off. A new Environmental Impact Statement must be 
     completed prior to construction, and North American, rather 
     than imported, steel should be utilized for the construction 
     of the pipeline. This natural gas project would produce many 
     times more jobs and be safer for workers than drilling in the 
     Refuge, and would increase the supply of a cleaner and more 
     valuable energy source, without posing severe threats to 
     sensitive wildlife and tundra.

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