ANWR won't solve oil woes

In response to the letter "ANWR could reduce foreign oil dependency" (Nov. 28), I must correct the writer's facts. The United States is projected to use an average of 20.8 million barrels of oil a day in 2007. Prudhoe Bay averages 1 million barrels per day -- about 5 percent of the U.S. daily use. According to 2005 estimates, Prudhoe Bay has about 3 billion barrels remaining, or about 10 years of production. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, as reported by the National Resources Defense Council, has 16 billion barrels, but far less than that can be economically recovered. The amount that could be actually pumped represents about a year's supply for the United States Our daily use is increasing, as it is in the rest of the world. ANWR is not this country's long-term solution. We will still be dependent on foreign oil for some time; our future is in oil alternatives.

WAYNE KIRKBRIDE

Twain Harte