Spill spoils argument EDITORIAL

One argument in behalf of drill ing for oil in the Arctic Na tional Wildlife Refuge is that it can be done without damaging the pristine nature of this world-class nature preserve.

That argument, never really credible, is in serious disrepute today as clean-up crews struggle to contain what, at this point, is the sixth largest oil spill ever on Alaska’s North Slope. And it comes as Congress once again struggles over whether to include projected oil revenues from ANWR in the budget authorization bill.

Isn’t it time to give this issue a rest and get on with bigger fiscal issues without spoiling the environment? …

Doesn’t it make sense to leave some oil for the future, when extraction techniques should pose less environmental risk? Or are we so absorbed with satisfying our gluttonous appetite for oil that we care not a fig what the next generation does in a petroleum-exhausted world?

Both Senate and House should reject efforts to reinsert this divisive issue in budget deliberations.