From Jane Clark

Take action next week and tell your Representative that drilling in the
Arctic Refuge will do nothing to solve our energy problems.  The House is
expected to vote on this as early as Thursday, July 26.  Besides threatening
the Arctic, read below for more threats to our natural resources.

It's best to call during the week -- only takes a few minutes and doesn't
cost much.  If you must send your message by e-mail (or do both) be sure to
use a clear and unmistakable message in the subject line.

The House Resources Committee has approved energy legislation that
would mandate oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge;
give Big Oil companies billions of dollars in relief from royalties
they would otherwise owe American taxpayers; and threaten energy
development on most other federal public lands, like Wildlife Refuges
and National Forests. Next stop is the full House.

Demonstrating that it is radically out of step with the majority of
the American people, the House Resources Committee approved H.R.
2436, the Energy Security Act, introduced by the committee's
chairman, Rep. Jim Hansen (R-1/UT).  The vote paves the way for the
full House to consider the bill, which is expected as soon as next
week -- perhaps as soon as July 26th!

Among others, Rep. Hansen's legislation would:

   - *Mandate* oil and gas drilling in the biological heart of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- the 1.5 million-acres coastal
plain.  It's hard to imagine a more inappropriate place to drill for
oil.

   - Require the Interior Secretary to inventory "all federal lands,"
except national parks and wilderness areas, for coal, geothermal,
wind, and solar energy.  That means all National Monuments, National
Wildlife Refuges, Wild & Scenic Rivers, National Forest Roadless
Areas, BLM Wilderness Study Areas and Areas Of Critical Environmental
Concern, National Conservation Areas, and units of the National Trail
System would be open to energy production.

   - Require suspension of royalties for certain offshore oil and gas
leases, handing Big Oil companies a way out of billions of dollars of
royalties they would normally have to pay American taxpayers.

   - Requires the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to
determine what regulations stand in the way of energy development on
public lands.

   - Limits the ability of the BLM and Forest Service to require
environmental safeguards for oil and gas drilling on public lands.

   - Disallows the Forest Service from restricting certain areas of
National Forests from oil and gas development.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
Much of the discussion of energy production from federal lands
appears to be driven by the perception that abundant resources have
been "locked-up" or put off limits, to the detriment of the country's
energy future.

This is a myth that should not drive the energy policy debate.  In fact, the
vast majority of federal lands already are open to energy production.
Significant efforts were made in the last few years to enhance, where
appropriate, oil and gas production on these lands even in the face of
falling prices.  Important new areas were opened and are being leased.

TAKE ACTION
Please contact your Representative -- the full House is expected to vote on
Rep. Hansen's energy bill as soon as
next week.   Contact them directly with this message:

- OPPOSE Rep. Hansen's Energy Security Act, HR 2436, because it would:
- Mandate oil drilling in America's last frontier, the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge.
- Give Big Oil companies billions of dollars in royalties owed the
American people.
- Open up what much of what is left of our public wildlands to energy
development.  It has to stop somewhere.

Send your message or call to:
Rep. ________
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC  20515
(202) 224-3121

Representative Greg Ganske  (R), 202-225-4426, 202-225-3193,
[log in to unmask]
http://www.house.gov/ganske/

Representative Tom Latham (R),202-225-5476
[log in to unmask]

Representative Jim Nussle (R) 800-927-5212, 202-225-2911
[log in to unmask]

Representative Jim Leach (R) 202-225-6576
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Representative Leonard Boswell (D) 202-225-3806

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