Mr. President:
The current National Strategy on the Arctic Region plans on pursuing economic opportunities in "a sustainable and responsible manner". However, we still do not fully understand the potential environmental consequences of oil drilling on the Arctic ecosystem. Pollutants and waste could affect the populations of several species indigenous to the Arctic. In addition, the possibility of an oil spill in the Arctic region, however small the odds, would be absolutely catastrophic to the environment and be extremely costly and difficult to clean up. Like Antarctica, the Arctic should be used solely for scientific research.
Thank you.