Drilling for Oil in ANWR

[SilentButDeadly]

First of all I don't know to much about this except for what I have discussed with other people. I am just trying to find out what all is going on, and if they may start drilling for oil in Alaska... If so, is there anything I could do to get on the jump in being one of the first in getting a job in Alaska. From what I have heard it will pay pretty good money. (Btw, my dad is the one interested in doing this.)


Also who supports drilling in Alaska, and who doesn't? This is just for my curiousity. I support it because it will supposedly open up over 700,000 jobs in Alaska, and with the economy the way it is right now it could only be a good thing... It is only 1.5 million acres of Northern Alaska that would be considered for exploration, and IF oil is discovered, less then 2000 acres will be affected in production (Which is less then 1% of Alaska). More then 75% of Alaskans support the exploration and production in ANWR.


The man thing I am looking in all of this though, is if there is a sign-up or waiting list or something like that for the jobs in Alaska. I would appreciate the help that anyone could give me for this.

 

[mercanucaribe]

A small area is affected by drilling, but you also have to consider habitat fragmentation by roads. There are hundreds of maps on the internet showing the real spatial impact. Whether it will significantly disrupt ecosystmes, I don't know, but I doubt it will be any worse than the logging that goes on in the western seaboard old growth forests, which are ecologically richer and more important in my opinion. One reason to oppose drilling there is the fact that it's supposed to be an oil reserve for the future (when it will be worth significantly more). There isn't much oil under the ANWR, and tapping it will only marginally affect oil prices. What's more, even if it did, it wouldn't be beneficial to this country or the world, as it would only extend oil overuse. So, even disregarding environmental impacts, it's a high price to pay for no benefit except for those who profit directly, the folks who bankroll the politicians in favor of drilling.

Edit: Also, can anyone confirm that taxpayers will subsidize road building and other infrastructure?

 

[no0b]

Nik: Wrong Forum

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: no0b
Nik: Wrong Forum

God forbid you learn something by accident.

 

[Ornery]

Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

 

[TriStar]

Drill, drill, drill I want my oil! :Q

 

As the poster above stated, the real impact is NOT the drilling (that is usually a clean and compact operation). The real problem is roads cris-crossing the ANWR and causing environmental damage to the area. Trees get cut down, animals run away, buildings get built, etc. The whole ecosystem would be in flux.

 

[Jeff7181]

I really wish they would. The biggest weakness of the US is their dependancy on foreign oil. Other countries might not be so quick to thumb their nose at us if they couldn't rely on us to buy their oil. Let 'em eat their sand and drink their oil...

 

Originally posted by: Ornery
Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

Why do you always cite that case? You and I both know the snail darter case is a lightning rod for "fish damns dam" comments and associated "tree hugger" insults.

You know what? I'm not even going to get into it with you. :roll:

 

[Jpark]

Originally posted by: no0b
Nik: Wrong Forum

he's just asking a couple questions, not stating his standpoint on the matter.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I really wish they would. The biggest weakness of the US is their dependancy on foreign oil. Other countries might not be so quick to thumb their nose at us if they couldn't rely on us to buy their oil. Let 'em eat their sand and drink their oil...

Bah, short sighted, short term non-solution.


:thumbsdown:

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I really wish they would. The biggest weakness of the US is their dependancy on foreign oil. Other countries might not be so quick to thumb their nose at us if they couldn't rely on us to buy their oil. Let 'em eat their sand and drink their oil...

Nuclear power would make a lot more sense... What do you suppose will happen after the ANWR oil runs out?

 

[Jpark]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I really wish they would. The biggest weakness of the US is their dependancy on foreign oil. Other countries might not be so quick to thumb their nose at us if they couldn't rely on us to buy their oil. Let 'em eat their sand and drink their oil...

Nuclear power would make a lot more sense...

I agree

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I really wish they would. The biggest weakness of the US is their dependancy on foreign oil. Other countries might not be so quick to thumb their nose at us if they couldn't rely on us to buy their oil. Let 'em eat their sand and drink their oil...

Nuclear power would make a lot more sense... What do you suppose will happen after the ANWR oil runs out?

I agree. But there are a lot of people who oppose that too. The environmentalists would rather have us take a step back 200 years and ride horses around. Wonder what the animal rights activists would say about that.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: SilentButDeadly
First of all I don't know to much about this except for what I have discussed with other people. I am just trying to find out what all is going on, and if they may start drilling for oil in Alaska... If so, is there anything I could do to get on the jump in being one of the first in getting a job in Alaska. From what I have heard it will pay pretty good money. (Btw, my dad is the one interested in doing this.)


Also who supports drilling in Alaska, and who doesn't? This is just for my curiousity. I support it because it will supposedly open up over 700,000 jobs in Alaska, and with the economy the way it is right now it could only be a good thing... It is only 1.5 million acres of Northern Alaska that would be considered for exploration, and IF oil is discovered, less then 2000 acres will be affected in production (Which is less then 1% of Alaska). More then 75% of Alaskans support the exploration and production in ANWR.


The man thing I am looking in all of this though, is if there is a sign-up or waiting list or something like that for the jobs in Alaska. I would appreciate the help that anyone could give me for this.

A couple things.

I'm an Alaskan. Been up here all my life. I've also done brief contract work in Prudhoe on several occasions, staying up to a week at a time. Not much to do up there but they have awesome food.

Pretty much everyone in Alaska wants ANWR open. (75-80% or so depending on the poll)

Almost all your stats are correct. ANWR is about the size of North Carolina and the acreage proposed for development is roughly the equivilant of building a fair sized international airport.

Last time I checked it passed the senate (as an ammendment to a supplemental spending appropriation I think) and is being argued about in the house. (Opposite of last time when it sailed through the house and got killed in the senate) We'll see. Got my fingers crossed with all the rest of us.

700,000 jobs? Don't think so. There aren't 700,000 people in Alaska. Using Prudhoe Bay as a model you might be looking at 2000 permenant jobs tops once production is up and running and they are pretty tough to get. It's more about WHO you know than what you know. It helps to be in tight with the unions. (IBEW, Teamsters, Laborers, etc.) Living outside Alaska is a big disadvantage. We have local preference hiring up here. If it's a choice between two qualified people the Alaskan will win.

Good luck.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Ornery
Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

Why do you always cite that case? You and I both know the snail darter case is a lightning rod for "fish damns dam" comments and associated "tree hugger" insults.

You know what? I'm not even going to get into it with you. :roll:

It's typical from him. He has his point of view on just about everything, and he doesn't let the facts get in the way...

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: Jeff7181

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I really wish they would. The biggest weakness of the US is their dependancy on foreign oil. Other countries might not be so quick to thumb their nose at us if they couldn't rely on us to buy their oil. Let 'em eat their sand and drink their oil...

Nuclear power would make a lot more sense... What do you suppose will happen after the ANWR oil runs out?

I agree. But there are a lot of people who oppose that too. The environmentalists would rather have us take a step back 200 years and ride horses around. Wonder what the animal rights activists would say about that.

There are people that oppose pretty much anything...what's your point? Trying to pin the lack of new nuclear plants solely on "enviromentalists" seems just a tad short sighted to me. Not all enviromentalists are the rabid useless ones you guys like to knock. Would it be better if there was no one to speak for the enviroment at all? Just let all the oil/power companies do whatever they want?

Meh...whatever.

The whole drilling in the ANWR issue seems kind of silly to me. It will have no effect on oil prices, nor our dependance on foreign oil, and any oil we get from there likely won't be available for a good 10 years or so.

 

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Ornery
Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

Why do you always cite that case? You and I both know the snail darter case is a lightning rod for "fish damns dam" comments and associated "tree hugger" insults.

You know what? I'm not even going to get into it with you. :roll:

It's typical from him. He has his point of view on just about everything, and he doesn't let the facts get in the way...

I'm an 'environmentalist,' and I heartily support expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. Anything is better than more coal and more oil. Anything.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Ornery
Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

Why do you always cite that case? You and I both know the snail darter case is a lightning rod for "fish damns dam" comments and associated "tree hugger" insults.

You know what? I'm not even going to get into it with you. :roll:

It's typical from him. He has his point of view on just about everything, and he doesn't let the facts get in the way...

I'm an 'environmentalist,' and I heartily support expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. Anything is better than more coal and more oil. Anything.

:thumbsup:

 

[Insane3D]

While I can't say I'm an "enviromentalist", I can say I would support more nuclear plants as well. I have one nearby in Seabrook, and while I'm not really getting any power from it, I do love the fact that the warm water coming out of it makes for awesome striper fishing.

My only question with new nuclear plants would be where are we going to keep the waste? I'veheard we can recycle it much better than in the past, but I assume most people wouldn't want nuclear waste dumped in their backyard...enviromentalist or not...

Originally posted by: jumpr
I'm an 'environmentalist,' and I heartily support expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. Anything is better than more coal and more oil. Anything.

Which is yet another reason you can't put all enviromentalists into the nice little group a lot of people like Ornery like to...

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Ornery
Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

You need to research the Tellico Dam. Ignore the snail, pay attention to the economics of the dam itself. The projected economic opportunity costs of the dam outweighed the economic benefits. The snail darter was just one more good reason to kill a bad investment.

 

[Jeff7181]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Insane3D

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Ornery
Should have made a poll!

They should drill there absolutely! This is just another instance where the tree huggers are over the top... AGAIN!

Why do you always cite that case? You and I both know the snail darter case is a lightning rod for "fish damns dam" comments and associated "tree hugger" insults.

You know what? I'm not even going to get into it with you. :roll:

It's typical from him. He has his point of view on just about everything, and he doesn't let the facts get in the way...

I'm an 'environmentalist,' and I heartily support expansion of nuclear power in the U.S. Anything is better than more coal and more oil. Anything.

Anything? How about burning tree's instead of coal?

 

Originally posted by: Insane3D
I do love the fact that the warm water coming out of it.

They're supposed to be cooling that water back to the original river temp! :Q

At least that's what my environmental law class taught me!

 

[ShotgunSteven]

I have heard too many local environmentalists, professors, and other people that actually HAVE a fvcking clue about how things actually are up here in Alaska to want to do more than tell the naysayers to STFU.

 

Originally posted by: ShotgunSteven
I have heard too many local environmentalists, professors, and other people that actually HAVE a fvcking clue about how things actually are up here in Alaska to want to do more than tell the naysayers to STFU.

I don't speak your language.