Dear Activist,

The rush for oil and gas drilling is on in the Arctic Ocean - one of the world's last pristine marine ecosystems. Temperatures in the Arctic are warming at twice the rate of anywhere else on earth and Arctic ice is melting at a rapid pace.

Decisions the Obama administration are making now about oil and gas development could have irreversible environmental impacts such as threatening the survival of many species that are dependent on sea ice, including the polar bear, walrus and ice seals, and may endanger the subsistence way of life of Indigenous peoples. Once the drills start, government scientists predict a 40 percent chance of one or more large oil spills in the Chukchi Sea alone!

The previous administration's unconstrained plans for oil and gas development have no place in the Arctic Ocean and Bristol Bay. Urge Secretary Salazar to remove Bristol Bay entirely from current and future leasing plans and to take a time out from all oil and gas activities and new leasing in the Arctic. The Arctic should be off limits until a comprehensive, science-based Arctic Ocean plan can be developed.

Thank you,
Marilyn Heiman
U.S. Arctic Program Director
Pew Environment Group