WATCH HIS TESTIMONY IN THE SENATE
At times the footprint of the proposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is described as no bigger than a dime on a football field.
Alaska Congressman Don Young used a different tactic to explain it. He took out a blue marker and put a dot on his nose while testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee to advocate for oil and gas development in the 1002 Area of ANWR.
Young said technology has improved so much that no more than 2,000 acres ( or 3 square miles) of the 19 million acre refuge would be required to develop the 20 billion barrels of oil estimated to be in the coastal plain.
After Young drew the dot on the tip of his nose, he remarked: “You see anything different on my nose right now? This little dot on my nose – I weigh 225 lbs. – this little dot is what we’re talking about in surface impact in the 1002 Area. That’s a potential for approximately – early estimates were 10 billion barrels – and now estimates are probably around 20 billion barrels of oil.”
