I was able to catch up by phone with Republican South Dakota candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Chris Lien tonight in Anchorage, Alaska.
Lien has spent the last four days visiting Alaska with six other U.S. House candidates.
Accompanied by Luke Puckett of Indiana, Mike Sodrel of Indiana, Greg Goode of Indiana, Jason Chafets of Utah, Paul Stark of Wisconsin, and Craig Williams Pennsylvania, the group has visited Prudhoe Bay, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Barrow, and the Arctic National Wildlife (ANWR) 1002 Area, among other locations.
According to Lien, the group visited several villages around the "1002 Area." He said that while he did meet one one man in a village who was opposed to drilling in the area, most of the elders and other villagers were in favor.
"In Barrow, in the North Slope Borough, the villagers said they didn't understand why the idea of drilling was such a big deal," Lien said. "About 75 percent of the people I spoke to were in favor. People in Fairbanks and Anchorage were largely in favor, too."
The group also met with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
According to Lien, "Yes, she’s very much in favor of allowing as much oil exploration as we can in Alaska."
Lien said he was impressed by the drilling technology. While even the older 1970s drilling architecture leaves only a small impression on the land, Lien said the new well heads are only about 10 feet across. Most of what is already in place sits several feet off the ground on concrete pillars.
About 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain area was set aside in 1980 for exploring oil reserves by the Department of the Interior, but no exploration has been allowed since that time.
"It's a marshy area with a lot of water," said Lien. "It looks similar to the Badlands of South Dakota, only with a lot of water around in it."
With the summer migration period, Lien said there was considerable wildlife in the area right now, consisting mainly of bears, caribou, and waterfowl.
However, Lien said current drilling operations have not been detrimental to the wildlife at all. In addition to the platforms being raised off the ground, animals such as the caribou are given special consideration. Lien said he was told that oil workers are instructed to stop for wildlife that may be on the roads; workers are not allowed to even get out of their vehicles to encourage the animals to get out of the way, and may be fired for interfering with the caribou.
Lien also said the caribou not only like the drilling areas for their warmth in the winter, but make use of the air conditioning vents to keep the mosquitoes off them in the warmer months. The caribou population in the Prudhoe Bay area has grown from about 3,000 in the 1970s to about 32,000 now.
As for the oil in the region, it is uncertain exactly how much oil is beneath the surface. An old U.S. Geological Survey report estimates 6-16 billion barrels of oil, but no surveys with more advanced technology have been allowed in decades.
"They estimated Prudhoe Bay had about 9 billion barrels, but they have already produced 15 billion," said Lien.
Lien said he doesn't believe there is a quick solution to high oil prices, but conventional wisdom indicates that if other OPEC nations see that the United States is serious about using our own oil reserves, it should help bring prices down.
"When they see we have other options, psychologically it would have a great impact," Lien said.
Lien said after talking with oil officials in the area, most estimates were that we could be drilling for the oil in ANWR 6-10 years after congress gives approval.
However, Lien said, Congress controls the permitting process, which would take up most of that time, and they can fast-track the process if they're willing.
"It was a great trip, being able to get a cross section from the Native Eskimo people and everyone else," Lien said. "It wasn't a one-sided thing. We got the whole spectrum and also talked to a few people who were opposed to it."
Lien will be flying out of Anchorage late tonight and is scheduled to be back in Rapid City, South Dakota tomorrow morning.
*I will be meeting with Chris Lien tomorrow afternoon or later this weekend and will post some photographs from the trip as soon as possible.
Lien has spent the last four days visiting Alaska with six other U.S. House candidates.
Accompanied by Luke Puckett of Indiana, Mike Sodrel of Indiana, Greg Goode of Indiana, Jason Chafets of Utah, Paul Stark of Wisconsin, and Craig Williams Pennsylvania, the group has visited Prudhoe Bay, Anchorage, Fairbanks, Barrow, and the Arctic National Wildlife (ANWR) 1002 Area, among other locations.
According to Lien, the group visited several villages around the "1002 Area." He said that while he did meet one one man in a village who was opposed to drilling in the area, most of the elders and other villagers were in favor.
"In Barrow, in the North Slope Borough, the villagers said they didn't understand why the idea of drilling was such a big deal," Lien said. "About 75 percent of the people I spoke to were in favor. People in Fairbanks and Anchorage were largely in favor, too."
The group also met with Alaska Governor Sarah Palin.
According to Lien, "Yes, she’s very much in favor of allowing as much oil exploration as we can in Alaska."
Lien said he was impressed by the drilling technology. While even the older 1970s drilling architecture leaves only a small impression on the land, Lien said the new well heads are only about 10 feet across. Most of what is already in place sits several feet off the ground on concrete pillars.
About 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain area was set aside in 1980 for exploring oil reserves by the Department of the Interior, but no exploration has been allowed since that time.
"It's a marshy area with a lot of water," said Lien. "It looks similar to the Badlands of South Dakota, only with a lot of water around in it."
With the summer migration period, Lien said there was considerable wildlife in the area right now, consisting mainly of bears, caribou, and waterfowl.
However, Lien said current drilling operations have not been detrimental to the wildlife at all. In addition to the platforms being raised off the ground, animals such as the caribou are given special consideration. Lien said he was told that oil workers are instructed to stop for wildlife that may be on the roads; workers are not allowed to even get out of their vehicles to encourage the animals to get out of the way, and may be fired for interfering with the caribou.
Lien also said the caribou not only like the drilling areas for their warmth in the winter, but make use of the air conditioning vents to keep the mosquitoes off them in the warmer months. The caribou population in the Prudhoe Bay area has grown from about 3,000 in the 1970s to about 32,000 now.
As for the oil in the region, it is uncertain exactly how much oil is beneath the surface. An old U.S. Geological Survey report estimates 6-16 billion barrels of oil, but no surveys with more advanced technology have been allowed in decades.
"They estimated Prudhoe Bay had about 9 billion barrels, but they have already produced 15 billion," said Lien.
Lien said he doesn't believe there is a quick solution to high oil prices, but conventional wisdom indicates that if other OPEC nations see that the United States is serious about using our own oil reserves, it should help bring prices down.
"When they see we have other options, psychologically it would have a great impact," Lien said.
Lien said after talking with oil officials in the area, most estimates were that we could be drilling for the oil in ANWR 6-10 years after congress gives approval.
However, Lien said, Congress controls the permitting process, which would take up most of that time, and they can fast-track the process if they're willing.
"It was a great trip, being able to get a cross section from the Native Eskimo people and everyone else," Lien said. "It wasn't a one-sided thing. We got the whole spectrum and also talked to a few people who were opposed to it."
Lien will be flying out of Anchorage late tonight and is scheduled to be back in Rapid City, South Dakota tomorrow morning.
*I will be meeting with Chris Lien tomorrow afternoon or later this weekend and will post some photographs from the trip as soon as possible.
UPDATE: Lien has a busy weekend ahead traveling the state, but I should have those photos posted Tuesday.
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