Have environmentalist activists actually gone to ANWR?

A Congressional delegation has, and here’s a report from one of them, with pictures.

For far too long, Americans have been told by the environmentalist left that drilling in Alaska would hurt the abundant wildlife and natural resources there. This is simply not true. ANWR is a small part of the Arctic Circle in northern Alaska. Energy exploration would be limited to a small 2,000-acre lot with in ANWR. That is comparable to a postage stamp sitting on a football field. Visiting ANWR also revealed that almost no wildlife exists in the 2,000-acre area. It was flat arctic tundra with absolutely no trees in view. And, caribou and wildlife were nowhere near the possible drilling sites. Furthermore, we know that nine months out of the year this area is hidden under snow and ice and three months out of the year the area is covered in complete darkness.

Take a look at those photos. We knew this already. But the information has long been kept from the public for political reasons. The oil crisis makes this and other domestic exploration and production necessary. Especially since it can be done with such technological skill now that it would not leave an environmental ‘footprint’.

Congressman John Boehner was there, too.

 I found the sheer amount of respect energy producers have for the land and for the native Alaskan way of life — of which wildlife is a key part — to be simply remarkable. Moreover, the new technologies energy companies use to reduce the “footprint” on the environment is equally impressive. Those on the Left who cite these companies’ “insensitivity” as a reason for stonewalling more production in the region either suffer from a complete misunderstanding of the issue or are purposely twisting the facts. And either way, it’s the American people — not to mention North Slope residents who depend upon energy production for jobs — who suffer the consequences.

Times up on this one. McCain has turn around on the issue and favors domestic drilling. Obama has the irrelevant response that it won’t bring down gas prices immediately. It’s an economic and national security necessity that needs assertive, bipartisan action. What would it take to get this do-nothing Congress to work together for a change, and do something?