Negative effects from drilling in Alaska’s ANWR

I became interested in drilling after researching why drilling in Alaska’s ANWR is a bad idea in writing class. Oil drilling is big modern problem that makes many experts argue about it. Oil is bad energy for the environment, oil reserves are getting less and less and are more difficult to explore. “Allowing companies to drill in Alaska's Northern Slope would boost the revenues of American oil companies that would like to explore the area for petroleum. Expansion of the oil industry in the Northern Slope would also create thousands of jobs and decrease U.S. dependency on oil imports from politically turbulent Middle Eastern countries. While some Democrats from oil producing states would support oil production in Alaska, a many of them oppose it. A wide range of environmental conservation groups have also formed a broad coalition against the repeal of the oil export ban. Both sides have fired up their political engines as Congressional panels consider the ANWR oil ban legislation. The ANWR, which was signed into law in 1973 by president Richard Nixon, has remained controversial even since then. Supporters of an end to the oil export ban have proposed many bills that would repeal it. In 1992, oil ban repeal supporters pushed ANWR drilling legislation through the Senate Energy Committee for the first time” (Alaska Oil Dispute). According to DOE (2008), there is considerable uncertainly regarding both the size and quality of the oil resources that exist in ANWR. DOE (2008) says that maximum potential capacity – accessing all the oil that’s available to be pumped – would not be realized until 2026. As EDF wildlife expert Michael Bean notes, the effects of development extend well beyond the physical limits of that footprint.

As that article says, drilling in Alaska’s ANWR is exactly a bad idea. I have read many articles. I discovered that many experts propose not to drill in Alaska’s ANWR. There will be more problems against drilling in Alaska’s ANWR.

Drilling cannot provide enough oil. Just because ANWR oil would be too little to drill, far more oil seeps naturally into the sea and the rate of consumption is increasing. According to Daniela Muhawi (Oil Drilling In Alaska, 2004), It is virtually impossible to get an unbiased assessment of the campaign to open the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. On one hand, the recoverable oil in the refuge, possibly amounting to as much as ten billion barrels, is enough oil to supply the entire needs of the United States for about 18 months.

It would not decrease oil prices, because demand is increasing, drilling will not make us more energy independent, and more and more people are coming out of poverty. According to Raymond James (Oil slips as demand for crude wanes, 2009), the market doesn't seem to think that this plan is going to solve the economic problems in the short term.

It would destroy the ecology around ANWR. It will bring harm to wildlife and ecosystems; animals world have no place to live and reproduce and it will cost much money to moderate the environment. According to Jain (Oil Drilling In Alaska, 2009), the amount of oil in the refuge is marginal at best. It is not going to make a difference. Also drilling in the Arctic Refuge is symbolic of a larger effort. It’s about getting into one protected area and using the momentum to get into another.

According to Dr. Orians (Experts Conclude Oil Drilling Has Hurt Alaska's North Slope, 2004), undesirable effects in the future are likely to be greater. I oppose his opinion, because we should invent a new less harmful and renewable energy to put in our life. We can’t wait for another new natural energy for a long time, right now we have to reduce the negative effects of drilling oil.

In conclusion, drilling in Alaska’s ANWR is a bad idea. Drilling can’t support enough oil, it would not decline oil prices and It would destroy the environment. In the end, people should stop drilling oil in Alaska’s ANWR.

References
Muhawi, D (2004, December 18). Oil Drilling In Alaska. Ecoworld.com.
http://ecoworld.com/features/2004/12/18/oil-drilling-in-alaska/

The Associated Press (2009, February 17).Oil slips as demand for crude wanes. MSNBC.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12400801/

Revkin, A. C. (2003, March 5). Experts Conclude Oil Drilling Has Hurt Alaska's North Slope.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DE1D9143FF936A35750C0A9659C8B63

Alaska Oil Dispute.
http://american.edu/ted/alaska.htm