Sch-Midnight Wildernes

Miller, a freelance writer and photographer, presents a timely plea for the preservation of the largest wilderness area in the United States, now threatened by oil and gas development. A resident of Alaska who has traveled extensively in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, she describes vividly the wonders of this magnificent 19-million-acre preserve in Alaska's northeastern corner, from its coastal plain to its mountains, glaciers and rivers. She tells the history of the establishment of this invaluable preserve in the 1950s and describes her experiences at the neighboring Prudhoe Bay oil fields, documenting the effects of oil development on a previously untouched arctic region, and concluding that such development would be devastating for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Illustrations not seen by PW. (Apr.)