But President Clinton vetoed that measure as part of a broader budget package, and Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt suggested Wednesday he'd do so again. We will protect this last undeveloped fragment of America' arctic coastline for the thousands of caribou, polar bears, swans, snow geese, musk oxen and countless other species who use it to birth and shelter their young. But there is a big difference between that and allowing oil exploration in a National Wildlife Refuge, he said. The legislation also drew negative reviews from environmental groups, who have long fought to keep oil companies out of the refuge. For environmentalists, measures to save energy and develop alternatives like solar and wind power are better options, especially given what's at stake in the Arctic refuge.
Activists are also unhappy about how some drilling has been going in approved areas.
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