The Senate Energy Committee will vote soon on opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-Yuma), who holds the deciding vote in that committee, should consider the minimal value of recoverable oil against the greater value to the public as a protected refuge.
I agree completely with columnist Mark Pearson (Herald, Nov. 18)that Sen. Gardner should vote against moving the bill out of committee to the Senate floor. We need the permanent protection of this wild region far more than the short – 2.5 years – of energy production it may yield.
Steve Dowler
Durango
