①IsthereenoughoilbeneaththeArcticNationalWildlifeRefuge(保护区)(ANWR)tohelpsecureAmerica’senergyfuture?PresidentBushcertainlythinksso.HehasarguedthattappingANWR’soilwouldhelpeaseCalifornia’selectricitycrisisandprovideamajorboosttothecountry’senergyindependence.Butnooneknowsforsurehowmuchcrudeoilliesburiedbeneaththefrozenearth.Withthelastgovernmentsurvey,conductedin1998,protectingoutputanywherefrom3billionto16billionbarrels.
②Theoilindustrygoeswiththehighendoftherange,whichcouldequalasmuchas10%ofU.S.consumptionforaslongassixyears.Bypumpingmorethan1millionbarrelsadayfromthereserveforthenexttwothreedecades,lobbyistsclaim,thenationcouldcutbackonimportsequivalenttoallshipmentstotheU.S.fromSaudiArabia.Soundsgood.Anoilboomwouldalsomeanamultibillion-dollarwindfall(意外之材)intaxrevenues,royalties(开采权使用费)andleasingfeesforAlaskaandtheFederalGovernment.Bestofall,advocatesofdrillingsay,damagetotheenvironmentwouldbeinsignificant.“We’veneverhadadocumentcaseofoilrigchasingdeeroutontothepackice.”saysAlaskaStateRepresentativeScottOgan.
④Notsofar,sayenvironmentalists.③Stickingtothelowendofgovernmentestimate,theNationalResourcesDefenseCouncilsaystheremaybenomorethan3.2billionbarrelsofeconomicallyrecoverableoilinthecoastalplainofANWR,adropinthebucketthatwoulddovirtuallynothingtoeaseAmerica’senergyproblems.Andconsumerswouldwaituptoadecadetogainanybenefits,becausedrillingcouldbeginonlyaftermuchbargainingoverleases,environmentalpermitsandregulatoryreview.⑤AsforANWR’simpactontheCaliforniapowercrisis,environmentalistspointoutthatoilisresponsibleforonly1%oftheGoldenState’selectricityoutputandjust30%ofthenation’s.