The figure counts only the drilling platforms themselves and the area of the stanchions supporting any future pipelines actually touching the ground. New roads and pipelines are conveniently ignored. The claims of '700000 new jobs' seem to share the same rectal origins.
Interestingly enough, the 'only 2000 acres!' claims of the area that would be affected by said drilling are turning out to be so much phlogiston:
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/waller/article/0,9565,170983,00.html
The figure counts only the drilling platforms themselves and the area of the stanchions supporting any future pipelines actually touching the ground. New roads and pipelines are conveniently ignored. The claims of '700000 new jobs' seem to share the same rectal origins.