Comment from Kris Wilson, self

As someone greatly concerned about the protection of marine ecosystems,
I am writing to comment on the Draft Proposed 2010-2015 Outer
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
I urge you to remove from the 5-year plan any new leasing in the
Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The ocean and coastal ecosystems of the
Beaufort and Chukchi are home to walruses, seals and endangered whales,
and serve as staging and molting grounds for hundreds of thousands of
migratory birds. They are also integral to the livelihoods and cultures
of Native communities across northern Alaska.
Energy development should not be allowed in the Beaufort and Chukchi
seas until a comprehensive plan has been prepared based on a full
scientific assessment of the health, biodiversity, and functioning of
these arctic ecosystems. Arctic waters are particularly sensitive
marine ecosystems and there is no proven technology to contain oil
spills in the arctic ice environment. The U.S. government's own expert
agency, the National Marine Fisheries Service, has concluded that there
are not enough safeguards or data to go forward with drilling in the
Arctic, and has recommended against it.
I also urge you to exclude Bristol Bay, one of our nation's richest
fishing grounds, from the 5-year plan. Fifteen cetacean species
including the imperiled bowhead, blue, fin, sei, humpback and sperm
whales occur in Bristol Bay, a spectacularly rich area for marine
life. One of the planned lease sale areas overlaps with critical
habitat designated for the eastern North Pacific right whale, the most
endangered whale population in the world.
There are many strong reasons to stop and reassess energy development
off the coast of Alaska. Scientific evidence shows that climate change
is causing severe changes in Alaska's arctic and subarctic waters,
resulting in loss of habitat for polar bears, walruses and seals, and
undermining our ability to predict cumulative environmental impacts
from oil and gas development. High winds and powerful seas, variable
ice and cold temperatures challenge offshore technologies, and there is
presently no proven method for oil spill cleanup in ice-laden waters.
In addition, little is known about the population, distribution, and
behavior of many species in these waters.
Alaska's marine and coastal regions constitute an unrivaled ocean
legacy. We cannot afford to place them at risk. Thank you for the
opportunity to comment on the 5-year plan.