US not ready for Arctic oil drilling, say officials

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Agence France-Presse

US not ready for Arctic oil drilling, say officials
Karin Zeitvogel
February 8, 2011 - 5:34AM

The United States is ill-equipped to deal with a major oil catastrophe in Alaska, the Coast Guard admiral who led the US response to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill and others have warned.

Only one of the US Coast Guard's three ice breakers is operational and would be available to respond to a disaster off Alaska's northern coast, which is icebound for much of the year, retired admiral Thad Allen told reporters this week.

Former Alaska lieutenant governor Fran Ulmer said that before drilling in the Arctic, the United States must "invest in the Coast Guard."

"It's not an option; it's a mandatory next step for our country to take," said Ulmer, who was a member of a presidential commission that last month called for more government oversight to prevent a repeat of the Gulf of Mexico disaster.



Read more: http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-world/us-not-ready-for-arctic-oil-drilling-say-officials-20110208-1akf0.html

[Swampguana]

1. If there a was a repeat of the Gulf in Alaska

It would be disastrous on the environment there. They shouldn't bother with the oil up there, not worth it.

[Red1]

2. Damn Good Common Sense

The only thing better would be to not drill at all..

[donquijoterocket]

3. as from

Wargames, the only way to win is not to play.Bad as the Gulf of Mexico was a catastrophe of that magnitude in Arctic waters would be immeasurably worse.

[underpants]

4. Oh yeah... then there is that. The feds covering the safety costs for industry

but DRILL BABY DRILL right?