The problem is that a lot of this land is covered by permafrost, does not contain that much oil, would take about 15 years to develop and start refining, and in the end, is more of an attempt to crack open a protected land to set a precident for opening other protected lands.


I wont even get into the can of worms that is development on permafrost. Suffice to say that it's very, very delicate stuff. In natural environments, is a very resilient type of land, but when devolpment takes place around it, stands up like a sandcastle against a water gun. The environmental implications of permafrost destruction goes far beyond natural aethetics. Permafrost traps many compounds that are popularly referred to as greenhouse gasses. Lots and lots. I really, really would prefer if those gasses stay trapped.



And I give lots of thought into those other lands. Read up on the land depression that's occouring in the midwest due to the depletion of the great plains water table. If it sinks too far, farming in that area could be significantly impacted for basically the rest of civilization... I'm not BSing either...