Posted on: Monday, September 24, 2001

Editorial
Congress must delay Arctic drilling debate

Now in this time of national emergency, Congress must move wisely and quickly to implement measures that can't wait. And to do that, they must delay action on numerous issues that are too sensitive or controversial to pass without thorough public debate.

High on the list of actions that must not be rushed is approval of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Proponents of opening this pristine wilderness to exploitation counsel haste because of the Sept. 11 attack on Manhattan and the Pentagon. That's nonsense, given that no new oil would be forthcoming for at least seven years.

Thus it's unseemly that Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., has submitted two lengthy amendments to the defense bill moving through the Senate, one identical to the entire energy bill that the House passed in August. That bill endorses a number of unwise energy policies, including ANWR drilling.

The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is very nearly the last of our truly unspoiled wildernesses. The 1.5 million acres of the refuge that President Bush proposes to open to oil exploration has never seen a bulldozer. Once it's gone — it's gone.

And for what? Enough recoverable oil to supply the United States for six to nine months.

Clearly this is not a step the nation should take lightly, or without extensive, thoughtful debate. Above all, it's not a step that should be taken by stealth or in panic.