American economy would experience a decrease in the price of oil for American consumers, a large increase in American jobs, and would decrease U.S. dependency on petroleum imports from the Middle East and Latin America, ultimately reducing the trade deficit of America. Despite a small minority of Democrats, the majority of the party has previously, and continues to support the ban on oil drilling in Alaska. Along with a majority of the Democrats, a wide-range of environmental conservation groups in America and Alaska have formed a coalition against the repeal of the oil export ban, which has proved to be highly effective in persuading legislation that is introduced to congress concerning the oil ban. Despite the varying positive aspects extensive oil drilling in the Northern Slopes of Alaska would have on the American and Alaskan economy, due to the negative effects that increased oil drilling would have on the surrounding environment, wildlife, and the native Gwinch'in Indians who reside their, the ban concerning oil drilling should not be repealed.
             In order to understand the complexity of the oil ban issue, it is important to briefly look at the history of the issue. President Richard Nixon signed the ban on the drilling and exportation of oil into law in 1973. In 1977, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS) was created, which served the purpose to ship crude oil to South Alaska in a more efficient and cost beneficial manner. From this point until 1994, no important legislation was passed concerning the oil exportation ban in the North Slope. In 1994, the Department of Energy conducted a study, "Exporting Alaskan North Slope Crude Oil-Benefits and Costs, found that exporting Alaska crude oil would increase producer receipts for both California and Alaska oil...Additionally, DOE predicted larger producer revenues at the wellhead would result in 100,000 bd more output from Alaska and California than would be the case with...