FYI about the proposal for the National Petroleum Reserve: US Interior Dept Issues Alaska Oil Drilling Plan From Planet Ark's World Environment News, 1/20/03. Washington - The U.S. Interior Department released a draft proposal on expanding oil and natural gas drilling in the National Petroleum Reserve, which may give energy companies access to millions more acres in a pristine reserve in Alaska. In a 1,000-page report, the department's Bureau of Land Management proposed four scenarios for the northwest area of the National Petroleum Reserve, ranging from having no drilling to giving oil companies access to parts of the reserve . . . BLM will take public comment on the four scenarios for 60 days until March 18 and then present one to Interior Secretary Gale Norton in a final environmental impact statement expected later this year, the official said . . . http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/19463/story.htm - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to: [log in to unmask]