Oil spills injure and kill wildlife.
Oil is one of the major sources of energy for the United States. The U.S. produces oil in 31 states and its coastal waters. Besides domestic production, the U.S. imports a lot of oil from other countries to meet consumption needs. In 2009, about 51 percent of the oil consumed by the U.S. was imported. To decrease reliance on oil imports, some people champion drilling the U.S. oil reserves. However, drilling the U.S. oil reserves causes harm to the environment and wildlife.
Reserves
Proven oil reserves are areas that have not yet been drilled for oil but have been shown, through geological exploration and engineering data, to contain oil recoverable under existing operating and economic conditions. As of 2009, there are five areas proven to have between 1,001 to 5,496 million barrels of oil. These areas are the Gulf of Mexico, Texas, Alaska, California and North Dakota.
Wildlife
Some of these oil reserve areas encompass large areas of natural habitat for a variety of wildlife. The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska is home to 200 wildlife species, including caribou, polar bears and musk oxen. Millions of birds migrate to the refuge to nest and feed. Drilling for oil emits toxins into the air and water that the wildlife breathes and drinks. Just the very introduction of humans and machines causes harm to fragile ecosystems. Airplanes and roads change migratory routes while industrial noise can cause certain animals, such as polar bears, to abandon their dens with young babies inside. Drilling for oil also carries the risk of oil spills. The BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico killed numerous mammals in 2010. Dead wildlife, including dolphins and sea turtles, are still washing up dead a year later on coastal shores.
Environment
The toxins released by oil drilling also harm the environment. Nitrogen oxides create acid rain and smog. Carbon dioxide and methane contribute to global warming. The pollution created by oil drilling can be carried far beyond the drilling site by wind and water currents. Plumes of pollution from oil drilling in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, have been detected 200 miles away in Barrow. Oil spills can take decades to disappear completely. Some of the areas polluted by the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska were as toxic 20 years later as they were immediately after the spill.
Little Return
In 2009, the U.S. consumed 18.8 million barrels of oil per day. By 2025, it is estimated that the U.S. will consume 28.3 million barrels of oil a day. As of 2009, the top five proven oil reserve areas only have 16,962 million barrels of oil combined. This amount of oil is not enough for even two years under the current consumption rate. Considering the high cost to the wildlife and environment, drilling the U.S. oil reserves provides little return.
Tags: million barrels, drilling reserves, have been, causes harm, Gulf Mexico