A new U.S. government report says caribou and other wildlife may face substantial risk if oil is developed in parts of Alaska. 

The report released Friday by federal researchers focuses on Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The Bush administration wants to begin oil drilling there to make the United States less dependent on foreign oil. The report says snow geese, musk oxen, polar bears and migrating birds could also be affected in addition to the caribou. 

The U.S. Senate is due to begin debate on the matter next month. An energy bill including drilling in the Alaskan wildlife refuge passed the House of Representatives in August. 

Government officials are quoted as saying only a very small part of the refuge area would be affected and that risks to the wildlife could be reduced by closely managing oil production. 

In another U.S. policy that relates to the environment, President Bush released a statement Friday saying his administration is working carefully with a project concerning the Klamath River Basin in the states of Oregon and California. 

Mr. Bush says a federal working group is making sure water from the basin is being provided to farmers who depend on it, while taking careful steps to protect fish populations. The working group is also consulting with local Native Americans to address their concerns. 

The U.S. president is currently on an Easter holiday retreat at his Texas ranch. 

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