ANWR

"1002 Area"

"1002 Area" also assumes the name Coastal Plain. It is comprised of 1.5 million acres of the 19 million acres of ANWR. "1002 Area" is located in the extreme North East corner of Alaska: 60 miles east of Prudhoe Bay and 30 miles west of the Canadian border. In 1980, even though Congress gave most of the refuge wilderness status, the 1.5 million acre coastal plain, known as the 1002 Area, named by the Alaska Lands Bill was not considered a part of the refuge because of the possible exploration for oil.

Originally in 1960, President Esenhower established the refuge and the Nixon and Carter administration resisted the pressures of oil-drilling industries to drill. Surprisingly in 1980, 1983, and 1988, the refuge was further expanded.

June 1968 marks the date that Atlantic Richfield Company announces the discovery of a major oil source near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. Soon after, in 1969, the US government announces the passing of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). This act requires a full investigation of environmental impacts for all future developmental proceedures.

Later that year (1969), the oil industry files applications for the development of the trans-Alaskan pipeline system.

From 1976 to 1979 the US Geological Survey performs environmental investigations on the National Petroleum Reserve just west of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska.

Between 1980 and 1985 many departments, such as the US Department of Energy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, conduct studies in the area to determine possible impacts.

In 1987 scientists focus on the investigation of "1002 Area" that shows potential for drilling.