Arctic Refuge threatened again

February 24, 2005

To the editor:

Once again the president and powerful members of Congress are attempting to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. This time they are attempting to bypass the normal legislative process (debating it as part of the energy bill) and are attempting to sneak it into the budget resolution.

Fortunately, our congressman, Tim Johnson, has voted to protect the refuge in the past and last week he joined a number of other Republicans in signing a letter calling on the chairman of the budget committee to resist the back-door assault on this precious 5 percent of Alaska's north slope that has been off limits to oil companies since President Eisenhower established the north slope a half-century ago.

Even if oil were found there it would take 10 years to bring it to market. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates of probable reserves amount to only 1 to 2 percent of our daily consumption. We could save more oil by making cars and trucks that get 2 more miles per gallon, and it wouldn't take 10 years.

The Arctic Refuge represents everything spectacular and everything endangered about America's natural heritage. Oil exploration could hasten the extinction of polar bears, caribou and the American Indians who depend on them. We must count on Congressman Johnson and Sens. Dick Durbin and Barack Obama to protect America's wild places for future generations.

CLARK BULLARD
Urbana