Akaka says oil-drilling techniques acceptable

Advertiser Staff

U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka, D-Hawai'i, yesterday said he was not sure if the issue of oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will come before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, of which he is a member.

Environmental and native rights groups have criticized Akaka for dropping his opposition to legislation that would allow oil exploration in a pristine wildlife refuge in Alaska.

Akaka yesterday repeated that he supports drilling so long as proper environmental precautions are taken.

"Today, the technicality of drilling is so different from before, they can do it much cleaner than they did before," he said.

Senate Republicans this week revived their drive to open the Arctic tundra to oil drilling, using as leverage a defense bill that would fortify the military in the battle against terrorism. Supporters say the proposed drilling would boost national security by making the country less dependent on foreign oil.