This paper explains that the northern slopes of Alaska's one hundred fifty million acre coastal plain, which is part of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), is abundant in both oil and gas reserves and is the number one prospect for United States' oil and gas
development. The author points out that the use of wildlife refuges and wilderness areas for energy development has become a very hot topic, especially in Alaska, because of the United States' dependence on foreign oil. The paper relates that researchers and developers are seeking new technologies to drill for and
transport the oil without hurting the surrounding environment in the process.