OIL

Arctic refuge drilling gets Senate green light

THE US Senate has voted to allow provisions for oil drilling in the Alaskan Arctic National Wildl...

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A motion by both Democrat and Republican senators to strike the provisions was overturned 51-49, clearing the way for drilling in the area if Congress can agree on a budget.

The oil industry has lobbied for over two decades to gain access to the billions of barrels of oil believed to be under the 1.5 million-acre ANWR in north-east Alaska.

Opponents to drilling have cited probable harm to native caribou populations, migratory birds and polar bears, with the Canadian Government voicing its strong opposition to any plans to drill in the area.

The vote is a big step towards opening up drilling, with previous attempts blocked by Democrat filibustering.

Provisions in the budget make it immune to filibustering, meaning proponents of drilling only need a majority to succeed, rather than the full 60 votes normally required to break a filibuster, when the budget is proposed later this year.

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