Drilling in Refuge Is Worth Exploring

Re “Arctic Fight Gets Personal” (editorial, March 27), criticizing Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) for trying to open some of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration: At a time when America is being accused of waging war for Iraqi oil, it is important that we identify new sources of domestic oil so that someday we can again be independent of foreign suppliers. If there are substantial quantities of oil beneath the Alaskan wilderness, we should find out as soon as possible and work out ways of exploiting it with minimal disruption to the environment. And if not, well, there is nothing to argue about. Meanwhile, Alaskans are fortunate to have a senator who speaks out for their benefit and their nation.

Thomas A. Schenach

Huntington Beach