Save National Wildlife Refuges from Oil and Gas Mining

Source:  Force for Change

Target: Daniel M. Ashe, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Goal: Protect national wildlife refuges from oil and gas exploitation

“The national wildlife refuges across the United States are unprotected against oil spills and contamination from natural gas drilling. These precious places have seen too many toxic chemicals, piles of trash and oil spills. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), which regulates these areas, has recently proposed a set of new laws to protect the US refuges. We need to show them how important this issue is and that it is worth fighting for. Tell USFWS to create regulations to protect the national wildlife refuges.

“While the USFWS does not have laws in place, the National Park Service, a smaller organization, has had a set of laws in place for over 30 years. These laws focus on spill prevention and response, disposal of waste, and reduction of surface impact. They also plan to update these regulations to promote directional drilling, increase operating standards, and raise fees and penalties. The USFWS has more than 200 national wildlife refuges that already have oil and gas infrastructures in place, plus 103 refuges and 4 wetland management areas that have functional oil and gas wells; the USFWS must create and implement similar laws as the National Parks Service. Toxic spills that have already occurred must become a thing of the past.

“It is not enough to set aside land and call it a refuge when that land is being exploited and degraded by oil and gas mining. A refuge is a place of safety from the pollution and development of the industrial world. The national wildlife refuges must be, in name and in practice, sanctuaries for the wildlife that call them home. Tell the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to go through with its proposal; there must be protections for the ecosystems of the national wildlife refuges.

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