John B. Breaux: “I think also these are national wildlife refuges. There are a number of State wildlife refuges that States have set…”

“I think also these are national wildlife refuges. There are a number of State wildlife refuges that States have set aside that also have production on them as well. Congress set this up, as the Senator well knows--I helped write section 1002 over in the other body--as an area that was going to be looked to for potential exploration. The remaining 19 million acres in the rest of the wildlife refuges in ANWR was going to be set aside for no activity. But Congress specifically made a decision: Look, we are going to reserve section 1002 for potential exploration and production. That is exactly what the Washington Post and the New York Times were commending Congress for at that time. When President Jimmy Carter signed this bill, they knew that section had been set aside for the purposes of looking at potential oil and gas exploration. Now, all of a sudden, we come back and say: No, we just can't touch it. I think that is not being fair or balanced.”