Oil Drilling Won’t Stop Imports

America cannot drill its way to energy independence, as Alaskan Sen. Frank Murkowski suggests (“Let Alaskan Oil Help the State, Nation,” Commentary, Feb. 17). Even if more oil development were allowed off California’s coast and in the ecologically sensitive Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. would still import more than half its oil. After all, our nation has less than 2% of the world’s known reserves.

If Murkowski really cared about California consumers or oil imports he wouldn’t have voted against raising our nation’s fuel economy standards. He also wouldn’t have sponsored legislation that repealed a ban on the export of Alaskan crude oil in 1995. As a result, millions of barrels of crude are being diverted from California to China and other Asian countries. Murkowski has also backed BP Amoco’s proposed takeover of Arco, which would create an Alaskan oil monopoly that the Federal Trade Commission warns will jack up prices even more.

We need a farsighted energy policy that reduces our dependence on oil and protects natural treasures like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge coastal plain. This home to caribou, polar bears, grizzlies and wolves should not be plundered for a short-term, questionable supply of oil.

ADAM KOLTON

Arctic Campaign Director

Alaska Wilderness League

Washington