Protect the Arctic Ocean
- by: The Pew Charitable Trusts
- recipient: U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar
The U.S. Arctic Ocean plays a critical role in supporting coastal communities and many remarkable species, including bowhead whales, ice seals, walrus, and polar bears. The Department of the Interior (DOI) recently released its plans for new oil and gas lease sales in this vulnerable area, even though 3.8 million acres are already leased offshore.
Tell DOI it should not include new lease sales in the U.S. Arctic Ocean until:
- the large gaps in our understanding of the Arctic marine ecosystem identified by USGS are filled;
- biological hot spots and subsistence use areas are identified and excluded from the leasing program; and
- oil spill containment and response equipment is tested and proved to work in extreme Arctic conditions, including broken ice.
You can help protect the Arctic Ocean! Tell Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that, without protection of important areas and infrastructure to support a major spill response effort, DOI should not sell more of the U.S. Arctic Ocean.
Tell DOI it should not include new lease sales in the U.S. Arctic Ocean until:
- the large gaps in our understanding of the Arctic marine ecosystem identified by USGS are filled;
- biological hot spots and subsistence use areas are identified and excluded from the leasing program; and
- oil spill containment and response equipment is tested and proved to work in extreme Arctic conditions, including broken ice.
You can help protect the Arctic Ocean! Tell Interior Secretary Ken Salazar that, without protection of important areas and infrastructure to support a major spill response effort, DOI should not sell more of the U.S. Arctic Ocean.
Secretary Salazar:
There should be no new Arctic Ocean oil and gas lease sales in the 2012-2017 outer continental shelf program plan.
Already, 3.8 million acres are leased in the U.S. Arctic Ocean despite the lack of basic coastal infrastructure to support drilling activities and a major spill response effort, despite there being major gaps in our basic scientific understanding of the marine ecosystem, and despite the fact that known important ecological and subsistence use areas are unprotected from future leasing and drilling activities.
The U.S. Arctic Ocean is remote, with extreme weather, but it also supports coastal communities and such unique species as bowhead whales, ice seals, walrus, and polar bears. Those who have adapted to life in these harsh conditions face unknown changes as a result of climate change, warming the Arctic at twice the rate of the rest of the world. Now, the Arctic's coastal communities will also have the stress of potential oil exploration off their coasts with potentially significant costs. Before more areas are opened to oil and gas activity, DOI should ensure that some basic protections are in place for the Arctic Ocean and the communities that rely on its health for subsistence. These include:
1) A science plan: A comprehensive scientific research and monitoring plan should be in place to fill the gaps identified by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) recent Arctic science review in order for DOI to have the best science available to decide whether and where leases should be offered.
2) Protection of biological hot spots: Biological hot spots and areas important for subsistence should be excluded from leasing plans. The USGS named a few of the known biological hot spots in its Arctic science review: Chukchi ice lead system, Barrow Canyon, Hannah Shoal, Point Barrow, Boulder Patch, and Camden Bay. Local communities and Alaska Native Organizations have also identified important areas for subsistence that should be withdrawn from leasing consideration as well. In addition, Bristol Bay, in the North Aleutian Basin, was withdrawn until 2017, but its profitable, sustainably harvested fisheries should be protected permanently from oil and gas activities.
3) Demonstration of spill response capability: As oil companies prepare to head into the Arctic, where infrastructure such as ports and major roadways are lacking, a late-season spill in which oil could mix with broken ice is a possibility. Yet no technology has been proved to effectively clean oil from ice. Oil companies that want to operate in the Arctic must demonstrate they have the capability to respond to a major spill in broken ice conditions.
(Your Comments Here)
No new Arctic Ocean oil and gas lease sales should occur in the 2012-2017 outer continental shelf program plan.
Thank you,
Sign PetitionSign PetitionThere should be no new Arctic Ocean oil and gas lease sales in the 2012-2017 outer continental shelf program plan.
Already, 3.8 million acres are leased in the U.S. Arctic Ocean despite the lack of basic coastal infrastructure to support drilling activities and a major spill response effort, despite there being major gaps in our basic scientific understanding of the marine ecosystem, and despite the fact that known important ecological and subsistence use areas are unprotected from future leasing and drilling activities.
The U.S. Arctic Ocean is remote, with extreme weather, but it also supports coastal communities and such unique species as bowhead whales, ice seals, walrus, and polar bears. Those who have adapted to life in these harsh conditions face unknown changes as a result of climate change, warming the Arctic at twice the rate of the rest of the world. Now, the Arctic's coastal communities will also have the stress of potential oil exploration off their coasts with potentially significant costs. Before more areas are opened to oil and gas activity, DOI should ensure that some basic protections are in place for the Arctic Ocean and the communities that rely on its health for subsistence. These include:
1) A science plan: A comprehensive scientific research and monitoring plan should be in place to fill the gaps identified by the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) recent Arctic science review in order for DOI to have the best science available to decide whether and where leases should be offered.
2) Protection of biological hot spots: Biological hot spots and areas important for subsistence should be excluded from leasing plans. The USGS named a few of the known biological hot spots in its Arctic science review: Chukchi ice lead system, Barrow Canyon, Hannah Shoal, Point Barrow, Boulder Patch, and Camden Bay. Local communities and Alaska Native Organizations have also identified important areas for subsistence that should be withdrawn from leasing consideration as well. In addition, Bristol Bay, in the North Aleutian Basin, was withdrawn until 2017, but its profitable, sustainably harvested fisheries should be protected permanently from oil and gas activities.
3) Demonstration of spill response capability: As oil companies prepare to head into the Arctic, where infrastructure such as ports and major roadways are lacking, a late-season spill in which oil could mix with broken ice is a possibility. Yet no technology has been proved to effectively clean oil from ice. Oil companies that want to operate in the Arctic must demonstrate they have the capability to respond to a major spill in broken ice conditions.
(Your Comments Here)
No new Arctic Ocean oil and gas lease sales should occur in the 2012-2017 outer continental shelf program plan.
Thank you,
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