Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Essay

Drilling in Alaska will not help stop the oil crisis. Many colonial Americans weren’t concerned about protecting natural resources because they thought they had a lot but they also knew that they needed to preserve the oil. Should the United States drill for oil in Alaska’s wilderness? America shouldn’t drill in Alaska because of the environment wilderness, protecting environment, and economics.

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land, A Photographic Journey is an editorial that argues in favor of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and how it must be protected from the dangers of human industrialization and oil exploration that would surely destroy the land. The author of the passage dwelves into great detail about the vast, untouched beauty of the Arctic Refuge and how its majesty is among the greatest things he has witnessed. Banerjee, however, fails to support his argument using substantial facts that might otherwise sway skeptics. For instance, Banerjee states: “I was saddened to think of the tragedy that might occur if this great wilderness was consumed by a web of roads and pipelines, drilling rigs and industrial facilities”. The author here uses an ethos and pathos standpoint, coming from the perspective of personal experience and opinion of how distraught he should feel if the land were

The world, as we know it, is in the midst of having an oil crisis. Our nation starves and bends at the will of this dreadful calamity. Our deprivation for this atrocious corruption has led us to look for oil deposits in the Alaskan Wilderness. The US needs oil and by drilling for oil on our own land, we would help our economy, but in doing so would destroy the beauty of the wilderness and harm many others. The matter on hand is that should we drill for oil in Alaska’s wilderness? My opinion and answer to this question would simply be no. The United States of America should not drill for oil in the Alaskan wilderness.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been the center of a strident controversy and national debate that has raged for over 40 years. The question raising so much contention is whether the federal government should allow drilling for oil and natural gas with the levels of contention paralleling the rise and fall of gas prices. The National Democratic and Republican Parties have taken opposing positions in their national political platforms, with the debate emerging and re-emerging in Congress as a significant issue. The Republican are proponents of drilling whereas the Democrats are opposed. With Sen. Lisa Murkowski ascending to the top post of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee many observers believe that the Republicans will renew their push for drilling in the ANWR in the upcoming 114th Congress. This paper will explore the different arguments that are used to oppose drilling to protect the ANWR followed by arguments that are in support of drilling. As a result of a preliminary review of current literature outlining the pros and cons surrounding drilling, it is the thesis of this paper that drilling in the ANWR is unnecessary based on (1) the potential to cause irreversible damage to a very unique ecosystem that has not been adequately studied by scientists; and (2) the limited impact that drilling in the region will have on overall market prices and supplies due to the estimated small size of the ANWR’s oil and gas reserves. A brief history of the

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is a large piece of land in Alaska. It

“Since I have left office, there have been repeated proposals to open the Arctic Refuge coastal plain to oil drilling.” This direct quote makes me feel like we, as humans, could do some severe damage to the environment. How much damage could we do? Who would be the ones to clean up the irreversible damage we have done? Without the persistence of the indigenous people, this great refuge would not be what it is. “There are few places on earth as wild and free as the Arctic Refuge.” This statement has so much truth and should hit us on a personal level because it makes you wonder how many places are there left like this on the earth? How long can we preserve this place? We should be more careful and use our resources

The question is should we drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. While there are downfalls to drilling the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve, the benefits to the country and to Alaska far outweigh them. These benefits include lower gas prices, more jobs, energy independence.

Lee, Professor of Economics. In his argument claims, “that the Economic of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge oil is so great that even environmentalist should agree to drilling, and they would probably stand to benefit.” There would be many benefits as compared to the cost. He does not deny the fact that there would be risks associated with the drilling. In spite of this, he feels that they do not begin to compare the benefits. Lee explains that the main reason that this has become such an intense issue is because of high prices of oil and gasoline. Lee goes on to explain that technology has having fewer risks involved with the drilling. This is why it is an important issue. Drilling would help reduce the U.S. dependence on foreign sources. Richard Pombo, a Republican from California argued that “there is no logical reason” to oppose ANWR drilling (Easton, 2009).

Con: No, America is heading towards a better way to produce energy, a clean renewable energy that is not dangerous to the environment.

The ranchers have also been trying to buy rights to this land. Despite every offer, over the past three years, the owners have been claiming that the land is not for sale. They want to install a pipeline 306 miles long (Grange). Where they want to install this pipeline is home to many livestock, fish, and nature. Animals in this area include water shrew, yellow-bellied marmot, beaver, sagebrush vole, porcupine, bighorn sheep, pygmy rabbit, ringtail cat, and many more. During the process of building this pipeline, it could destroy or affect many animal’s homes and move or remove parts of nature in that area such as tree roots, plants, and soil. “This project is seen as a threat by Indian tribes and rural communities and is expected to do immense damage to many rare endemic species, desert vegetation, and the land itself, much of what is open range” (Carter). The price of the construction is estimated to cost anywhere from $3.5 billion to $15 billion

With the past presidential campaign, George W. Bush vowed to open area 1002 to drilling. Now he is in office, along with Interior Secretary, Gail Norton, who shares his view. Legislation was introduced in the House and Senate in early March 2001 to open the plain to drilling. Because of its enormous potential and the vital need for domestic sources of oil and gas, the Department of Interior recommends that the Congress enact

Calf survival rates have been extremely low in areas or mountain range and without their discrete areas caribous are threaten more by predators (Whitten 2004). The reserves will also constrain caribou from moving about because of all the traffic that would be created and the pipe crossings. That’s no way a precious creature should live. That’s why Alaskan natives oppose drilling.

In its citation to Carizzo Oil and Gas, the DEP strongly recommended that the company cease drilling at all 67 wells “until the cause of this problem and a solution are identified.”

With all the good the Arctic National Wildlife refuge has to offer as a safe haven for endangered animals and plant life, comes the burden of sitting on an oil reserve. As noted earlier in 1980, under President Carter, the protected area was doubled. However, the oil industry lobbies succeeded in having the U.S. Senate refuse to designate the critically important Costal Plain as wilderness. Instead, Section 1002 of the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act legislation directed the Department of Interior

Oil Drilling has many effects on the environment from the air we breathe to the oceans that inhabit many species. While one of the outcomes of oil drilling is money, it is forgotten that money won’t help repair all of the damage that is done to mother nature. Not only does the outcome of drilling for fossil fuels affect the oceans, rainforest, etc. it also has an effect on local business’ and the health of humans. If people want change, they need to be the