Drilling oil in Alaska... How could it be enviormentally friendly?

Question

I'm doing a project for college, and I was wondering. I have a couple of ideas why it would be good to drill in Alaska, but I need some more concrete ideas (websites, books, etc references would be great).

I would really appreciate any of y'all's ideas. And its about how drilling in Alaska really isn't that big of an environmentally hazard than everyone thinks it is. I need solid ideas about how it doesn't affect the environment.

Thank y'all so much.

Answer 1

I live in Alaska. The topic is not 'theory' here. Some of the folks answering are only getting their information from the news, and it wouldn't be OUR local news.

There is so much information available here and yes, it IS an enviornmental hazard which is why 'everyone' thinks that.

So the information I offer would not support your request but the University of Alaska in Anchorage or Fairbanks or the Anchorage Daily News or the Fairbanks NewsMiner might be good places for you to look.

Best of luck.

Answer 2

Alaska is a very very big place. However in all of that space there isn't very much of anything but straight nature. Drilling for oil is not a very destructive process. The biggest impact would most likely be from infrastructure such as roads to drill sites and pipelines if any oil is found. The impact of test drilling is very short term on any given area and nature reclaims things quickly. Positives to the residence of the united states is obvious. More jobs a domestic source of cheaper oil and decreased reliance on foreign oil from less than savory governments. I would even argue that it would be beneficial to nature in Alaska. More jobs would mean more money and people in the area and an increased awareness of Alaska's beauty and lead to better preservation and conservation of Alaska's aesthetic resources. Also minor disruption to stable ecosystems leads to a greater biological diversity. So in effect Building roads and other infrastructure and creating test drill sites would be beneficial to the overall community dynamic of these areas. Especially considering the minuscule scale of these undertakings when compared with the overall size of the state.

Answer 3

Hope some of these help you. I tried to find balanced stories or places that gave multiple reference links....

1)Discussion: Oil Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
First, recent events and opinions:
Here are some articles and items from the Web. In the interests of "balance", I have allotted about the same space to drillers and anti-drillers.
Where does Alaska oil actually go?
Oct 24, 2003
2)Oct 24, 2003WASHINGTON, March 4 - Oil drilling on Alaska’s North Slope has disturbed some endangered species and made whaling harder, but it has not caused significant oil spills or a large decline in caribou, a scientific panel said Tuesday in a report requested by Congress.
3)Anchorage, Alaska - Sen. Ted Stevens has a new strategy for opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration.
4)Balanced Politics Site
5)Myths about Drilling in ANWR By Ben Lieberman

Answer 4

...the drilling of oil (done properly by professionals who know what they are doing) is not intrusive on the endowment... it's when "idiots" like Greenpeace raid or try to raid an oil-rig and cause criminal damage etc. is when problem take place...
By the way... "Oil" is a natural resource...

Answer 5

Planet Mars also has global warming.

How can any man be blamed on that, or fix it ?

You tree hugging liberals, never stop.

You keep on worrying about the trees.

Is college hurting you, or helping you.?