RIASSUNTO
Thank you for this opportunity to present the environmental viewpoint of the oil and gas industry. But I must warn you: I hope to shatter forever your stereotype of environmentalists in the same manner that we at the National Wildlife Federation are attempting to shake up the environmental movement's view of the business community.
If there is one major message -- one penetrating question -- that I want to leave with you today. . . that I want to travel far beyond this room it is: \""Why do environmentalists and business people keep repeating the mistakes of past decades? Why do we insist on being adversaries, fighting the same battles over and over again? Aren't we bone weary of drawing battlelines when together we could chart an effective and positive strategy for both economic development and environmental protection?
Unfortunately, an event just two weeks ago proved again that the answer is \""no\"". That's when Interior Secretary Hodel announced his five-year program for the Outer Continental Shelf. And, as predictable as the sunrise, industry dashed to its corner, shouting \""resource lock-up.\""
And what did the environmental community do? What else? Some of my most vocal colleagues screamed \""They're going to rape our resources\"" as they ran for the opposite corner. Who won with that kind of rhetoric? Absolutely no one !
Why should the environmental and business communities always approach issues from such predictable and adversarial positions? How can we -- working together -- break the stereotypes that bind us to outdated thinking and outrageous fears? How can we in the environmental community and you in the oil and gas industry move beyond a discussion of motives to a consideration of merits?
I challenge you to initiate the change -- here and now -- first by erasing the skepticism that makes business people and environmentalists too leary of one another.
I'm reminded of a story President Kennedy used to tell.
Shortly after his election, Kennedy had some run-ins with the steel industry about prices. As a result, he earned a reputation for being \""anti-business.\""
To counter this perception, Kennedy invited industrial leaders to the White House -- where he spoke enthusiastically about his administration's work on behalf of industry. As he ticked off his accomplishments, he became more and more excited. Finally, he got a little carried away and declared, \""Why, if I weren't President, I'd invest in the stock market right now.\""
In fact, your opportunity is here now as the Federal government opens thousands of new acres to offshore energy development and as onshore exploration becomes more widespread. We urge that corporate and governmental decisions regarding oil and gas development be based on solid scientific and economic information. Such information should clearly lay out the benefits of development and the inherent environmental risks..
There is no such thing as a risk-free society. But we must have enough thorough and objective data to assess those risks and weigh them against economic realities and national needs.