Arctic Oil Development Has Major Environmental Impacts, Study Says

Schlickeisen Says Report "Lays to Rest" Debate on Arctic Refuge Drilling Dangers

(03/04/2003) - WASHINGTON -- A long-awaited report to Members of Congress on the impacts of oil and gas development on Alaska's North Slope today confirmed statements by scientists and conservationists that oil development in the Arctic is incompatible with efforts to preserve key wildlife habitat and sensitive species such as caribou and migrating birds. The report, compiled by the National Research Council, has found that the environment and culture of the North Slope of Alaska has been "significantly affected by oil infrastructure and activities."

"The Council really lays to rest the argument that oil companies can go drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge without harming wilderness and wildlife values," said Rodger Schlickeisen, president of Defenders of Wildlife. "Drilling supporters asked for this report in the first place, but in line after line it confirms what we have said all along, that wildlife and industrial oil development just don't mix.

Among the impacts detailed in the report is the sprawling physical infrastructure of the North Slope industrial complex which covers an area of more than 1,000 square miles with interconnecting roads, pipelines, drilling pads and gravel pits, among other non-natural structures. Because of the nature of the Arctic environment, natural recovery of these cumulative impacts will be very slow, and neither oil companies nor the federal or state governments are likely to go beyond token efforts to repair the damage done by oil operations, according to the report. Only about 100 acres (1%) of the habitat affected by gravel fill on the North Slope have been restored, and the Committee concluded that unless major changes occur, it is unlikely that most disturbed habitat on the North Slope will ever be restored.

"The NRC says unequivocally that oil activities on the North Slope of Alaska have had an impact on birds, caribou, and other arctic species, and that bringing these activities to the Arctic Wildlife Refuge would spread these impacts across the last 5% of the North Slope that's not already open to oil exploitation. We know the cost, and it's just not worth it for six months worth of oil that won't be available for at least ten years," Schlickeisen said.

The report points out that oil development has altered the distribution of female caribou during the summer insect-relief season, possibly reducing nutrient intake leading to poorer condition in the fall and failure to produce a calf. Caribou that were regularly in contact with developed areas had lower birth rates than caribou that avoided such areas (particularly when occurring during years of high insect numbers). The increased size of the Central Arctic Herd is not a sufficient measure of the consequences of development. Several years with very little insect harassment (weather related) have contributed to the growth of the herd. Similar events can be expected for the other Caribou herds should there be additional exploitation of the North Slope for oil and gas development.

The report notes that predators of birds – arctic foxes, gulls, ravens, etc. -- have increased in areas where oil production is occurring because of the presence of garbage and food. It found that reproduction rates of some species, including black brant, snow geese, eiders and some shorebirds, is lowered enough by predation that population level declines are possible. According to the report, "These populations may persist in the oil fields only because of immigration of individuals from source areas where birth rates exceed death rates." The adjacent Arctic National Wildlife Refuge currently serves as a safe haven and source population for these species.

In particular, the report saw evidence that for species with stable populations declines could occur if immigration from neighboring habitats, such as the Arctic Refuge, are affected.

The NRC Report "Cumulative Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Activities on Alaska's North Slope" is available on the web at National Academies Press.

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Defenders of Wildlife is one of the nation’s most progressive advocates for wildlife and habitat, and was named as one of America’s Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine. With more than 430,000 members and supporters, including nearly 100,000 in California, Defenders is an effective voice for the environment. To learn more about Defenders of Wildlife, please visit www.defenders.org.

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Contact(s):

Caroline Kennedy, (202) 682-9400