Should we drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
Should we drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
The Arctic is no place for oil and gas drilling, and this site is not far from one of America’s last wild places—the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
What are the consequences of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
Allowing drilling in the Arctic Ocean would add new environmental stressors – from pollution, to noise and other forms of disturbance – to marine wildlife that are already feeling the brunt of warming sea and air temperatures.
Why is drilling in the Arctic good?
Horizontal drilling increases the production rate of a well because it has greater surface area and because it allows access to oil miles away and in hard-to-reach areas. Arctic Power says that 90 percent of the wells in Prudhoe Bay, the largest oil field in the U.S., are horizontal.
Why is drilling bad?
Oil and gas drilling has a serious impact on our wildlands and communities. Drilling projects operate around the clock generating pollution, fueling climate change, disrupting wildlife and damaging public lands that were set aside to benefit all people.
Is the Arctic refuge still protected?
Protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has been a bipartisan effort throughout its history. However, the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge remains unprotected. Recent political events have opened this region up to the threat of oil and gas development.
How does drilling affect wildlife?
Oil breaks down into components that accumulate through the food chain, poisoning whales, dolphins, turtles, birds, fish and shellfish.
How does offshore drilling affect the environment?
Offshore Drilling Is Bad for the Environment. This poses an unjustifiable risk to the Bay, our coasts, and the economy. Toxic Pollution: Normal offshore drilling operations release toxic pollution into the air and water. A Risk to Animals: Wherever there are oil spills and excess pollutants, wildlife is risk.
Why we should not drill the Arctic?
Drilling in the refuge could damage a third of the rapidly shrinking denning grounds of endangered polar bears, and the winter grounds of the Porcupine caribou herd, which serve as an integral resource – physically and culturally – for the Gwich’in people. The world is moving away from fossil fuels.
How does drilling affect marine life?
Each year, U.S. offshore drilling rigs are responsible for dozens of spills of crude oil, natural gas liquids, diesel and hydraulic fluids into the environment. Oil breaks down into components that accumulate through the food chain, poisoning whales, dolphins, turtles, birds, fish and shellfish.
Why is the Arctic Refuge in danger?
Oil spills, climate change, fishing, shipping routes—threats facing Arctic seabirds are vast, and hard to track.
Why we should save the Arctic Refuge?
Environmental Importance The Arctic Refuge is covered in ice and snow for much of the year, but when the snow melts in the spring life explodes. The long summer days allow plants to grow quickly, supporting a complex food chain. Changing climates are breaking this cycle, and energy exploration could damage it further.
How does offshore drilling affect animals?
Oil destroys the insulating ability of fur-bearing mammals, such as sea otters, and the water repellency of a bird’s feathers, thus exposing these creatures to the harsh elements. Many birds and animals also ingest oil when they try to clean themselves, which can poison them.
What was the problem with Artic oil drilling?
The Noise Even if nothing goes wrong – which history suggests is unlikely – a lot can go wrong.
Why is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?
Arctic National Wildlife Range was established in 1960 to preserve unique wildlife, wilderness and recreational values.
What is drilling in the Arctic?
Like all offshore drilling, drilling in the Arctic is more costly, complicated, and politically controversial than drilling for oil on land. A wellbore is drilled through the seabed, first for exploratory purposes and then to serve as the drilling site for extraction.
How much oil is really in ANWR?
KASTE: The basic numbers come from the United States Geological Survey. Its mean estimate is that ANWR contains 10.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil. That sounds like a lot, but…
