{
  "id": "RL31278",
  "type": "CRS Report",
  "typeId": "REPORTS",
  "number": "RL31278",
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  "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
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      "id": 316621,
      "date": "2003-05-15",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-08T14:45:37.053544",
      "title": "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Background and Issues",
      "summary": "The rich biological resources and wilderness values of northeastern Alaska have been widely\nknown\nfor about 50 years, and the rich energy resource potential for much of that time. The future of these\nresources has been debated in Congress for over 40 years. The issue for Congress is whether to open\na portion of what is now the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to allow the development of\npotentially the richest on-shore source of oil remaining in the United States, and if so under what\nrestrictions. Alternatively, Congress might choose to provide further protection for the Refuge's\nbiological and wilderness resources through statutory wilderness designation or to maintain the\ncurrent status of the area. Under current law, if Congress chooses not to act, the entire Refuge will\nremain closed to development under provisions of the 1980 Alaska National Interest Lands\nConservation Act.\n  The coastal northern plain of the Refuge is the focus of debate. This remote and largely\nuntouched area is an example of an arctic ecosystem that, by virtue of being essentially intact, is\nincreasingly rare. It has been called \"America's Serengeti\", for the vast herd of caribou, for the many\nnesting and feeding migratory birds, and for its predators such as grizzly bears, polar bears, wolves,\nand golden eagles. \n  The area also is an immensely promising oil prospect, which some feel could be as productive\nas Prudhoe Bay. It is heralded as a place which could help reduce national dependence on foreign\noil and keep the Alaskan oil pipeline in use for decades. Advocates for development foresee benefits\nto the oil industry, the people of Alaska, and the national economy.\n  For over 20 years, the debate over energy development in the Refuge has been highly polarized\nand remains so. President George W. Bush is committed to opening the Refuge to development,\nciting unrest in the Middle East among his reasons. And opposition to development remains strong,\nas opponents point to other means of achieving national energy goals. \n  This report does not analyze specific proposals to develop or protect the Refuge. Rather, it\nprovides basic material for analyzing possibilities and implications of the major issues that have been\nthe focus of the legislative debate over its fate. This report will be updated as events warrant.",
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc813210/",
      "id": "RL31278_2003Mar15",
      "date": "2003-03-15",
      "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26",
      "title": "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Background and Issues",
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      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
      "active": false,
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    },
    {
      "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department",
      "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc824483/",
      "id": "RL31278_2002Jun11",
      "date": "2002-06-11",
      "retrieved": "2016-04-04T14:48:17",
      "title": "Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Background and Issues",
      "summary": "The report begins with background on the geography and history of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). It also discusses the most common legislative issues, such as energy development, and provides an extensive review of the resources of the 1002 area, including the current status, regulations, and potential effects of development of those resources.A glossary is included to define the key terms and acronyms.",
      "type": "CRS Report",
      "typeId": "REPORT",
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          "filename": "files/20020611_RL31278_f0493112881c62b35b8a14fb344ba98285214401.html"
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      ],
      "topics": [
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Animals",
          "name": "Animals"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Energy policy",
          "name": "Energy policy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Wildlife refuges",
          "name": "Wildlife refuges"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Environmental protection",
          "name": "Environmental protection"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Energy",
          "name": "Energy"
        },
        {
          "source": "LIV",
          "id": "Public lands",
          "name": "Public lands"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Energy Policy",
    "Environmental Policy"
  ]
}