Description
Book SynopsisColliding environmental and development interests have shaped national policy reforms supporting both oil development and environmental protection in Alaska. Oil and Wilderness in Alaska examines three significant national policy reform efforts that came out of these conflicts: the development of the Trans-Alaska pipeline, the establishment of a vast system of protected natural areas through the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, and the reform of the environmental management of the marine oil trade in Alaska to reduce the risk of oil pollution after the Exxon Valdez disaster. Illuminating the delicate balance and give-and-take between environmental and commercial interests, as well as larger issues shaping policy reforms, Busenberg applies a theoretical framework to examine the processes and consequences of these reforms at the state, national, and international levels. The author examines the enduring institutional legacies and policy consequences of each reform period, their consequences for environmental protection, and the national and international repercussions of reform efforts. The author concludes by describing the continuing policy conflicts concerning oil development and nature conservation in Alaska left unresolved by these reforms. Rich case descriptions illustrate the author's points and make this book an essential resource for professors and students interested in policies concerning Alaska, the Arctic, oil development, nature conservation, marine oil spills, the policy process, and policy theory.
Trade ReviewBusenberg's well-researched documentation of how and why environmental policy was shared makes the theoretical framework bearable and broadly applicable to many areas. His interviews and graphical representations broaden the appeal of his book and may even attract casual readers. Choice You can tell from the content that the author put his heart and soul into a careful analysis of land usage and resource allocation ... an outstanding job of putting together the whole picture. San Francisco Book Review Provides useful information and analysis, and it could provide reading for a case study on the Alaska pipeline in an environmental or energy policy class. Its short length, limited scope, and clear explanations make it ideal for such uses. Journal of Environmental Studies & Sciences
Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System 3. The Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 4. The Exxon Valdez Disaster and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 5. Oil, Wilderness, and Alaska: The Enduring Conflict 6. Conclusion Notes References Index
