Argument: ANWR oil drilling will lead to the exploitation of other protected areas

Argument summary

If ANWR is developed for oil extraction, not only is its status as a National Wildlife Refuge under attack, but all other NWRs are also threatened. Big oil and other extraction companies will look greedily at other protected areas and begin to lobby for their status too to be downgraded. If NWR status is to mean anything, it must be upheld everywhere and absolutely.

Counter-arguments

• Argument: Wildlife refuges typically allow for limited drilling projects – ANWR drilling could only lead to the opening of projects in other refuges, which is already allowed, with limitations, in US law.