The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge covers about 8,900,000 acres in northeastern Alaska. It was originally protected by the United States Congress in 1960, through the lobbying efforts of Olaus and Mardy Murie, with the Wilderness Society.
The Bush administration, alleged by some to be backed by big oil, wanted to drill for oil in the refuge. The House of Representatives voted in mid-2000 to allow drilling, but in April 2002, the Senate rejected it. The future of the refuge remains uncertain.
