WASHINGTON – Senator Frank H. Murkowski (R-AK), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today released the following statement after U.S. Geological Survey officials released updated results of a review of the impact of exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): "The USGS' original effort missed the mark. They developed a computing model but fed it with development proposals that simply did not reflect reality. The results provided data that was useless as it didn't apply to any exploration or development proposal being discussed before the Senate. "The new data is an accurate reflection of reality. The results show only little or no impacts on the wildlife that live in the region. Alaskans – especially the Inupiat Eskimos who live there and support ANWR energy leasing – have known that for 30 years. "The bottom line is that this survey shows that the development of ANWR can coexist alongside the wildlife that live there. Such a balanced use will not only protect the region, the resources found there will also help ensure our nation's energy security. With new developments such as Saddam Hussein's oil embargo, we need to focus our efforts here at home to better safeguard our energy supplies." ###