First, offshore oil drilling results in both sea and land based pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, claims that "with offshore drilling comes substantial routine pollution in the forms of oil and gas." By routine, the EPA means "a near constant flow from oil rigs and derricks" (Sisskin). Nothing is ever done about the pollution, and until something is done about the oil being put into the sea, our oceans are at risk. So just how much oil is put in the oceans? According to a study conducted by the World Research Institute, "...between 3 and 6 million tons of oil are discharged into the oceans every year" (Gorman 48). To put this in

Environmental Defense. URL:http://www.gced.org/articles (20 Dec. 1998)

Rowell, Andrew. "Crude Operators: the Future of the Oil Industry." Ecologist Mar.

"Artic Offshore Oil and Gas Guidelines." Artic Environmental Protection Strategy.

Environmental Resources Evaluation System. URL:http://ceres.ca.gov/cralpressreleases/ (26 Sept. 1996).

Offshore oil drilling will not only leave a lasting impact on the marine life, but decrease natural resources as well. Offshore drilling removes the natural resources that "the world will look to the oceans for in the 21st century" (Environmental News Network). Already, it is clear that our marine resources are overstressed. In a short while, the full effects of depleted oceans will reach us. Countries that rely on the oceans for their economy will simply collapse. The stress that is placed on the oceans leaves a major impact on the creatures that inhabit the area. One of the leaders in the oil industry, Shell, "...has not improved on it's environmental...performance in the Niger Delta" (Rowell 101). The result of this was the death of over 3 million sea-based creatures and a reduction in marine life around the oilrig within a quarter mile radius. Consider a similar effect for every oil platform there is, and it is clear why there has been a severe reduction in marine life. And out at sea is not the only place that offshore disasters can occur. Tanks used to store oil after transportation to shore are dangerous to the environment as well. About "one fourth of the U.S. underground petrol stations are thought to be leaking" (Rowell 104). The leaks from underground led into the waterways, killing both land and sea based life along the way. It is only a matter of time until the leaks reach waterways used as drinking water, and then the full impact will be seen. So with these types of pollution, is offshore drilling even somewhat safe for the environment? The results given were just from a simple underground leak. An actual oil spill has far greater impact on the marine life. After the Exxon Valdez oil spill, only 2,400 California otters remained. This number is small when compared to the "nearly twice that number [that] were killed during the spill in Alaska" (AOC). That is approximately two thirds of the California otter population, lost to only one spill. At the current rate, the California otter will face extinction because of oil spillage. This is only one example of the several species that now face extinction because of offshore oil drilling. So with all of these problems, is offshore drilling worth the cost, maintenance, and repair of the offshore rigs? The answer is clearly no.

perspective, that is approximately 4 football stadiums filled to the top with oil. That is just every year...and this has been going on for more than a decade. In total, 45 million tons of oil in the past ten years that have been put into the oceans. There ar

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1980
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)