Greetings, In June 2011 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released a lengthy report summarizing gaps in knowledge about Arctic marine ecosystems. The stated purpose of the USGS report was to help inform federal decisions on oil and gas development in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas off Alaska’s northern coast. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who commissioned the report, stated: “This study is helpful in assessing what we know and will help inform determinations about what we need to know to develop our Arctic energy resources in the right places in the right way.”
Please join U.S. and international scientists in signing an open letter urging the administration to follow through on its stated commitment to science by employing a precautionary, science-based approach that better assesses the consequences of development in a rapidly changing ecosystem and by following the recommendations made in a USGS report prior to authorizing new oil and gas activities. Scroll down to read the full text of the letter. To sign the letter, please visit: http://oceansnorth.org/node/1051 From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Date: Sun, 11 Dec 2011 16:19:49 -0500 Subject: FW: Letter to the President: Support Arctic Science Raychelle, In June 2011 the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) released a lengthy report summarizing gaps in knowledge about Arctic marine ecosystems. The stated purpose of the USGS report was to help inform federal decisions on oil and gas development in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas off Alaska’s northern coast. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, who commissioned the report, stated: “This study is helpful in assessing what we know and will help inform determinations about what we need to know to develop our Arctic energy resources in the right places in the right way.” Please join U.S. and international scientists in signing an open letter urging the administration to follow through on its stated commitment to science by employing a precautionary, science-based approach that better assesses the consequences of development in a rapidly changing ecosystem and by following the recommendations made in a USGS report prior to authorizing new oil and gas activities. Go HERE (http://oceansnorth.org/node/1051) to read and sign the letter. Best, C. Scott Baker, Ph.D.ProfessorOregon State University F. Stuart Chapin III, Ph.D.Professor EmeritusUniversity of Alaska, Fairbanks Henry Huntington, Ph.D.Arctic Program Science DirectorPew Environment Group Chris Krenz, Ph.D.Arctic Program ManagerOceana Daniel Pauly, Ph.D.ProfessorUniversity of British Columbia Stuart Pimm, Ph.D.Doris Duke Chair of Conservation EcologyDuke University John W. Schoen, Ph.D.Wildlife Ecologist & Senior Scientist (retired)Audubon Alaska Stanley Senner, M.S.Director of ScienceOcean Conservancy John Teal, Ph.D.Scientist EmeritusWoods Hole Oceanographic Institute
