washington quest republicans open alaska arctic national wildlife reserve slow nonpartisan senate official rule late wednesday exploration subject environmental assessments interior department senator lisa murkowski republican alaska head senate energy panel push measure u.s. tax bill would open portion refuge coastal plain two lease sales 10 years drill nonpartisan senate official take issue energy committee measure fully consider requirements national environmental law official rule oil exploration refuge exempt environmental law require interior department commission assessment democratic aide say environmental assessments take months years complete good news us could slow prevent drill democratic aide say republicans offer new language bill move say drill would still advance tax bill pass little hiccup fix amendment file tonight full steam ahead republican senate aide say murkowski say concern procedural question issue would fully resolve arctic reserve protect federal government since 1960 home wildlife populations include caribou polar bear millions bird migrate six seven continents u.s. geological survey estimate area republicans want drill 12 billion barrel recoverable crude arctic drill hit speed bump u.s. tax bill