And military and defense and radar installations have existed and continue to operate there. The total AWNR Refuge totals 19.6 million acres. 8 million acres of the ANWR are already designated Wilderness. The Coastal Plain, with 1.5 million acres, was specifically set aside by Congress for the study of oil potential. Alaska has few and remote villages with small communities isolated by far distances.
Roads are few.
Many residents depend on bush pilots for supplies and mail.