Protect Arctic refuge from drilling

Across the country, the oil industry’s pipelines leak and pollute the environment. Pipeline projects present significant risk to natural treasures such as our national parks and monuments. We must take action to stop the damage.

I was born and raised in Nebraska, but moved to Ohio in 1969. Recently both my original and current home states have been threatened by pipeline leaks. The same drilling company, Energy Transfer Partners, is responsible. In Nebraska, the fragile ecosystem of the Nebraska Sandhills would be undermined by Energy Transfer’s proposed Dakota Access Pipeline. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency seeks a $914,000 penalty against Energy Transfer Partners for wetland leaks in its Rover Pipeline project.

At age 73, I’ve still never visited Alaska, but I’m enamored of the idea of sprawling wilderness as far as the eye can see. Currently, however, what I see is that the Trump administration is attempting to open up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. If a company with a history of leaks such as Energy Transfer gets to drill in the refuge, the damage could be catastrophic.

I don’t trust any oil company to treat the Arctic with respect. We need to keep our public lands safe for future generations. Readers should contact Sen. Rob Portman and ask him to stand up for our children and grandchildren by keeping the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge wild. No new pipelines!

Pamela Unger Columbus