ANCHORAGE, AK (Aug. 23, 2006) -- "Coming on the heels of the latest revelations about oil company negligence in the Prudhoe bay oil fields, today’s announcement that the Interior Department is taking one step closer to expanding the Alaskan oil fields into the sensitive wetland habitat around Teshekpuk Lake in Alaska is particularly disturbing.”

“Literally hundreds of thousands of conservation-minded Americans, including hunters, birders and Alaska Natives, have weighed in with the Interior Department to voice their opposition to the department’s misguided drilling plan for the critical wildlife habitat around Teshekpuk Lake.  Within the past few weeks, members of the US House and Senate have also written to Secretary Kempthorne to ask that Teshekpuk Lake be protected from oil drilling.”

“So far, the Interior Department has shown little evidence that it has given any weight to their concerns, opting instead to take its direction from the oil companies.”

“Fortunately, today’s announcement is only the first step toward leasing Teshekpuk Lake.  When he comes to Alaska this week, we are confident that Secretary Kempthorne will hear loud and clear that some places on the North Slope of Alaska are too important to turn into oil fields.  The Secretary should listen to those voices and take this opportunity to stop the headlong rush to ‘drill it all’ around Teshekpuk Lake.”