The House Natural Resources Committee holds a second hearing to consider drilling for oil and natural gas in part of ANWR, as a way to create jobs and increase domestic energy production.
Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA) and Alaska Republican Rep. Don Young announced plans to introduce a bill allowing for oil and gas development on the refuge's coastal plain, a 1.5 million-acre stretch on ANWR's northern edge.
Testifying are historian Douglas Brinkley; a representative of native Alaskans who live near ANWR, and officials from environmental groups. Committee Democrats requested the hearing to call more witnesses who oppose development.
In the first day of hearings on this topic members heard from proponents of drilling, including Alaska's governor and the state's three members of Congress.