The blueprint for solving our still-heavy depen- 1. Exploration of the vast, as-yet- 2. Price controls on production of all domestic 3. Moratoria and other arbitrary restrictions 4. Increased development of the nation's coal 5. The nation's Strategic Petroleum Reserve 6. Energy efficiency and conservation efforts by all Americans must be actively continued The year 1948 was a fateful year in more ways than Twenty years later, in 1968, we reached a miles- Little was said at the time, and nothing was done, to Disaster struck five years later, in late 1973. The In that year, America imported more than 2 billion For the first time, with the embargo, Americans At the same time, world oil prices skyrocketed. The embargo also threatened an independent U.S. Disaster struck again five years after the end of the That year, 1979, America imported more than 3 Shortages again appeared. And world oil prices The Present Situation Clearly, oil has become a political and military But the Arab oil weapon remains poised. It could be While supplies are adequate today, there is in truth Ominously, imports of oil to the United States are The danger signs are clear for all to see: the war between Iran and Iraq ..the attacks on tankers that The challenge to our diplomatic flexibility and eco- The means to reach that goal are realistic and The goal is realistic because we have— right here Senator BUMPERS. Morris, I think this is one of the few times we ever had a disagreement. We do have a small disagreement on this, and we will talk about it later. Ms. Moya. STATEMENT OF SUSAN C. MOYA, MANAGER OF THE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES POLICY, U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Ms. MOYA. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Susan Moya, and I am Manager of Energy and National Resources Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I am appearing today on behalf of our more than 180,000 members. Our membership is comprised of state and local chambers of commerce associations and 1500 in small businesses. I would like to point out that 90 percent of our membership is comprised of small businesses. We appreciate this opportunity to express our support for S. 1217. Continued orderly oil and gas development with appropriate environmental safeguards is vitally important to our members. Dependable supplies of energy are essential for farms, factories, businesses, and transportation. Our members well remember the gas shortages and curtailments of the 1970s which resulted in schools and factories being closed and people being laid off. They are concerned about the projections of oil imports exceeding 50 percent in the next year or two especially since oil consumption in the U.S. has exceeded production for more than 20 years. Growing oil imports subject the U.S. to extreme price fluctuations and supply disruptions. The current situation in the Persian Gulf, as witnesses have indicated, clearly underscore the need for the U.S. to develop its domestic resources, oil, coal, nuclear and others. The coastal plain of ANWR represents the Nation's most promising on-shore frontier for major oil and gas prospects. We believe that by leasing the coastal plain now, oil could come on line just as the production from Prudhoe Bay is at a serious decline. The Chamber recognizes that the coastal plain is prized not only for its oil and gas potential, but also for its valuable wilderness. And while we support oil and gas exploration and development on the coastal plain, we condition this support by saying that extreme care must be taken to protect the valuable natural resources of the coastal plain. And we believe that 1217 accomplishes this important goal. Experience on the north slope has shown that oil and gas development can be compatible with the Alaskan environment and wildlife. We don't believe that the coastal plain should be an "either/ or" question. And I believe this point was clearly demonstrated to me during my visit to Prudhoe Bay and ANWR this summer. The Chamber's president, Dr. Lesher went on a trip and came to the same conclusion independent of mine. We believe that the technology and experience of the north slope activities will be used and improved in the coastal plain. The Chamber believes that the U.S. can meet its energy needs and provide a wilderness legacy for the future. |