The Myths of Arctic Drilling

Today OSPIRG released a report on the myths of drilling in the Arctic Refuge. As gas prices skyrocket after the two gulf hurricanes, the oil industry is wasting no time increasing pressure on Congress to open up sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. Industry has a set of new fangled claims about how drilling can be done with little or no environmental impact....thus, our decision to release this report to debunk these claims. The report's most significant finding is that oil spills on Alaska's North Slope have increased since 2000, countering the claim that somehow drilling these days is a cleaner, more modern activity.

The report, ‘SAVING AMERICA’S ARCTIC: Dispelling Myths about Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge,’ shows that oil and gas drilling is incompatible with an area as pristine and wild as the Arctic Refuge. OSPIRG Field Director Laura Etherton says, “An industry that averages one oil spill every 16 hours should not be allowed to get its hands on one of America’s last wild places.”

We will post the report on our website shortly. Please feel free to share your perspective by leaving a comment. For more information on protecting the Arctic Refuge please visit www.savetheArctic.org or contact Laura at etherton at ospirg.org.