WASHINGTON, DC, Apr. 16 -- Expanding oil drilling on federal lands could cause �tremendous damage� to US waterways, the conservation group American Rivers said in a report detailing the nation�s �most endangered� rivers.
�The rivers on this year�s list demonstrate how damming, drilling, digging, and burning to produce energy pollute drinking water, deny the public recreational opportunities, and drive river wildlife to extinction,� said Rebecca Wodder, president of American Rivers. Wodder said that millions of acres of land and �countless� river miles have been scarred by fossil fuel exploration from coal mines and oil and gas wells.
Two of the 13 rivers targeted by the group specifically relate to oil and gas production.
One of the most �endangered� rivers this year is the Canning River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge of Alaska because it is near land that may be opened to exploration, the group said.
�High energy prices have renewed the oil industry�s determination to extend its reach from Alaska�s Prudhoe Bay oil fields, across the Canning River, and into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drill for crude oil and gas. In addition to the high risk of accidents and spills, the Canning would likely face draining and mining for the raw materials needed to assimilate the wildest place left in America into a sprawling network of drilling rigs and pipelines. The refuge is protected by law, and American Rivers urges Congress to resist pressure from the administration and reject any bills introduced that allow this destruction for an estimated 6 months� worth of oil, 7 to 10 years from now.�
Another river singled out by the group was the Powder River in Wyoming and Montana because of growing interest in coalbed methane plays.
�This relatively new form of energy development uses many shallow wells to tap natural gas deposits along coal aquifers, and discharges large quantities of poor quality water before the methane can be extracted. With an estimated 51,000 wells likely to be drilled by 2010, federal and state agencies are making important decisions this year that must set critical guidelines to ensure that industry develops responsibly and that by-product water is properly managed to protect the Powder River and its tributaries from harm,� the group said.
In its Apr. 11 report, the group said most of the 14,000 oil spills reported during the recovery, refining, or transportation of petroleum each year occur in or reach fresh water. Industry trade groups such as the American Petroleum Institute and the Domestic Petroleum Council say oil companies have a good environmental track record and are well versed in water quality issues.
Nevertheless, environmental groups like American Rivers say a stronger emphasis is needed on reducing demand for fossil fuel use, instead of encouraging supply in environmentally sensitive areas.
�The administration and some members of Congress have proposed stopgap measures to increase domestic energy production which will exacerbate these problems without resulting in long-term solutions.�
American Rivers said the federal government should support efforts to develop renewable fuels rather than fossil fuels.
