Government Reports Reveal Toxic Legacy of Alaska Wildlife Refuge Oil Drilling

Defenders of Wildlife
Friday, 1 March 2002

Kenai Oil Linked to Pollution, Deformed Frogs; Raises Questions On Arctic Drilling Push

Oil drilling in the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska has resulted in more than 350 spills, explosions and fires and is linked with abnormally high numbers of deformed wood frogs, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service studies released today by Audubon and Defenders of Wildlife. The groups' report Toxic Tundra details a contaminants study and a frog study, which was obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. These studies point to the need for further study of damage caused by oil production in Kenai and other National Wildlife Refuges, as well as the importance of keeping industrial development out of the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

"In spite of all the industry's promises, oil drilling in Kenai and other national wildlife refuges has left behind a disgraceful legacy of contamination, toxic chemical spills, and lasting damage to wildlife and wildlife habitat," said Robert Dewey, vice president for government relations at Defenders of Wildlife. "With such a sorry record, does anyone honestly believe the oil companies' fatuous claims that they'll do better next time, if we just throw open the doors to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge?"

"Oil drilling in a national wildlife refuge is simply an awful idea, " said Lois Schiffer, Audubon's senior vice president for public policy. "There can be no question, in light of these studies, that oil drilling would be a disaster for the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge." Analysis by Audubon and Defenders of Wildlife of the two USFWS studies is available on the Web at http://www.defenders.org/habitat/toxictundra.pdf Copies of these studies also are available by request.

For more information, or to contact Defenders of Wildlife, see their website at: www.defenders.org