Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT) introduced legislation today to protect the coastal plains region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge from oil and gas exploration and drilling.

The bill will designate 1.5 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge as wilderness for inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Once designated as wilderness the land becomes subject to specific management restrictions: human activities are restricted to non-motorized recreation, scientific research, and other non-invasive activities.

"I have long believed that we have a responsibility to future generations to preserve the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and I have fought to protect it for as long as I have been in the Senate," Lieberman said. "The fact is, we do not have to choose between conservation and exploration when it comes to our energy future; we can do both simultaneously while moving toward a sustainable and diverse national energy policy."

The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Bernard Sanders (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Mark Udal (D-CO), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Tom Udall (D-NM), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Diane Feinstein (D-CA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Kerry (D-MA), Richard Durbin (D-IL), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Today marks the twelfth time since 1989 that Senator Lieberman has introduced or been a co-sponsor of legislation to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.