Land use scheme threatens ANWR. (Alaska National Wildlife Refuge) (Editorial)

An idea floating around the U.S. Department of Interior would be funny because of its nuttiness if it were not so frightening for the same reason. lt suggests that the U.S. and Canada merge the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge with two Canadian national parks to create a huge, transborder area m which nobody could do anything except study animals and plants.

Oil lies at the core of the issue, of course. ANWR holds the best onshore oil and gas prospects in the U.S. But keeping drilling and production equipment out of it is one of environmentalism's holy missions. Congress so far has refused to approve ANWR leasing. The ultimate victory for environmental groups, though, …