Offshore Drilling and Oil Tankers

In response to your editorial “Preserve the Treasure,” July 20:

You state California’s oil production meets nearly 60% of its own needs.

You state further, that there is no domestic solution to imports as long as the United States consumes 6 million barrels a day more than it produces.

Unfortunately, this attitude has prevailed for too long.

We must adopt an energy policy that addresses our nation’s long-term need for protection against dependence on oil imported from sometimes unstable nations as well as the threat of petroleum blackmail. We must have a national policy that encourages exploration by oil companies and conservation by consumers.

I am still hopeful that President Bush, a former oil man, will adopt such a policy.

In the meantime, The Times should advocate such a policy.

PETER H. BACH

Los Angeles