The Nature Of The Ecology Problem Facing Alaska Oil Operators

Abstract

KELLY, THOMAS E., ANCHORAGE, ALASKA ROBERT SERVICE, POET OF THE NORTH, WROTE: "IT'S THE GREAT, BIG, BROAD LAND WAY UP YONDER, IT'S THE FORESTS WHERE SILENCE HAS LEASE, IT'S THE BEAUTY THAT THRILLS ME WITH WONDER, IT'S THE STILLNESS THAT FILLS ME WITH PEACE." ALTHOUGH RECALLING HIS FONDNESS FOR THE YUKON, HIS DESCRIPTION IS ALASKA TO ALASKANS AND WAS PARTICULARLY SO UNTIL A FEW YEARS AGO. ALASKA, THE SLUMBERING GIANT TO WHOM VERY FEW OUTSIDERS PAID MUCH ATTENTION, HAS BECOME THE FOCAL POINT FOR CONFLICT PAID MUCH ATTENTION, HAS BECOME THE FOCAL POINT FOR CONFLICT BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND CONSERVATION — MORE APPROPRIATELY LABELED PRESERVATION. AND THE PEACE THAT WENT WITH THE BEAUTY HAS FADED. PRESERVATION. AND THE PEACE THAT WENT WITH THE BEAUTY HAS FADED. AT THE CENTER OF THE CONTROVERSY IS - OIL. PRIOR TO THE DISCOVERY OF PRUDHOE BAY, THE OIL INDUSTRY IN ALASKA, AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, BELIEVED THAT PETROLEUM EXPLORATION AND DEVELOPMENT, AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT-WERE COMPATIBLE. WITH HONESTY AND GOOD CONSCIENCE, THE INDUSTRY ATTEMPTED TO TELL THE STORY TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND OCCASIONALLY WAS ABLE TO CITE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES OF HARMONY BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTION OR EVEN ENHANCEMENT OF OTHER RESOURCE VALUES. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SWANSON RIVER FIELD ON THE KENAI PENINSULA WAS PRIMA FACIE EVIDENCE THAT OIL AND GAS COULD BE PRODUCED IN QUANTITY WITHOUT SURFACE DEGRADATION AND WITHOUT DISRUPTION OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITAT. CREDIT FOR THIS, OF COURSE, RESTS PRIMARILY WITH THE BUREAU OF SPORTS FISH AND WILDLIFE, WHO MANAGE PRIMARILY WITH THE BUREAU OF SPORTS FISH AND WILDLIFE, WHO MANAGE THE KENAI NATIONAL MOOSE RANGE UNDER CAREFUL AND SOMETIMES STRINGENT REGULATIONS.