TECHNOLOGY & LAND:ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

How does technology allow us to modify our land? What are the costs for modifying the Earth?

CLASS DISCUSSIONS

Humans are altering the earth's landscape at rates and in ways never seen in times past. Explore how changes in human land use are impacting local environments. We will also explore some of the social impacts of various land uses in our area.

How to best manage land and natural resources, protect the environment, and respond to the needs of the ever-growing U.S. population are challenging policy arenas.

(benefits * probability) - (disadvantages * probability) = net benefit or net loss

Under this criteria, if the number is positive then the policy should be adopted. On the other hand, if the number is negative the policy should be rejected.

The benefits and disadvantages of offshore drilling can actually be analyzed fairly neatly with this criteria.

Benefits of Offshore Drilling

1st Benefit would be the harvesting of the oil itself. • The United States consumes about 7.56 billion

barrels a year of oil.• The US continental shelf could hold about 85.9

billion barrels (Canada 178 bb, Saudi Arabia 260 bb).

2nd Benefit would be national security. • We could use offshore oil to reduce our

dependence on foreign oil. (11 years worth on our oil resources).

3rd Benefit would be jobs created by the offshore drilling.• Jobs are risky, physical separation from family,

& rigs may hire anyone (American or Foreign)

Benefits ConclusionThere are definitive benefits to offshore drilling. However, contrary to the opinions of many, the amount of oil offshore is not sufficient as a long term energy solution for America. The benefits are very limited and two of the major benefits have a low probability.

The Disadvantages of Offshore Drilling1st Disadvantage is opportunity costs. • By devoting resources to offshore drilling we could

theoretically forsake opportunities to find new energy solutions. By devoting our resources to fossil fuels we could miss out on a $10 trillion dollar green technology industry. However, it is also possible that we miss out on nothing or that we are able to do both.

2nd disadvantage is worker safety.• Between 2001 and 2007 some 1,400 accidents occurred on

oil rigs though most of those accidents were not fatal. Expansion of offshore drilling would presumably only increase the risk to workers in an already dangerous industry.

3rd disadvantage is environmental. Deepwater Horizon had a “fail safe,” that failed, and remote subs failed to shut off the valve allowing even more oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico.

Environmental Damages from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill

• The environmental impact is hard to quantify but it is certainly significant. The Exxon Valdez oil spill killed over 250,000 birds and thousands of other marina animals. One report states the environment impacted by Valdez will not recover for many more decades.

• Some experts say the oil spill could eventually work its way around the Florida peninsula to the East Coast.

• Dead fish and turtles are still washing ashore along some areas in the Gulf Coast.

• The environmental damage also has an economic impact. Many fishing areas have already been closed because of the leak. In Louisiana alone, experts are predicting this will cost the state $2.5 billion. The tourism industry in Alabama and Florida is expected to take a hit since many do not want to go and visit an oil-covered beach. Finally, there is the significant costs of containment and cleanup. Exxon spent over $2 billion to clean up after the Exxon Valdez oil spill and most experts say this spill could be much larger in impact given the geographic region.

• An expansion of offshore drilling would expose even more areas of the East Coast to the kind of damage now being done to the Gulf Coast. What is the probability of another accident like Deepwater Horizon occurring again. New regulations will likely be adopted but, as demonstrated above, nothing is a sure thing. The probability of an accident may be low but the impact is very high.

Environmental Damages from the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill…continued.

Disadvantages Conclusion• Like the benefits, the disadvantages are hard to predict

when it comes to probability and impact. • What is known is that the benefits of offshore drilling are

limited and short term even under the best case scenario. There is a relatively small amount of oil off the coasts of the United States and the economic benefits are likely to be spread out to countries outside the United States.

• On the other hand, the disadvantages are very large and can last over a longer period of time. The "tiebreaker" in this equation would likely be the environmental impact of offshore drilling. If one gives little to no value to the environment then offshore drilling probably provides a net benefit as a purely economic activity.

• On the opposite end, if one values the environment more than the limited economic benefits of offshore drilling are probably not worth the risks involved.

1. Rising oil and natural gas prices are a source of concern, and some people are trying to come up with solutions that are environmentally and economically sound. Some people say that expanding the territory currently allowed for offshore drilling could help ease gas and oil prices. Offshore drilling is the act of drilling from off the coasts in the ocean. However, others argue that drilling off the shores of the United States harms the environment. A ban on new offshore drilling is still in place, but there has been talk of overturning this ban.

Discussion Topic 1

What are the benefits of offshore drilling? What are the drawbacks of it? What are the positive and negative issues with

this proposed ban lift? Should government ban this kind of drilling? Can you think of any energy related issues

that pit environmental protection against the economy in your own community?

Should government support lifting the ban on expanding offshore drilling?

How to manage the tensions between land use and development and the protection of animals and the environment is a key policy concern. As people continue to develop new communities, with housing complexes, office buildings, and shopping centers, on undeveloped land, animals and natural habitats are increasingly displaced.

Discussion Topic 2

In what ways should government balance the importance of allowing people to develop new properties with the importance of protecting animals and natural habitats?

Is balance required? What are the benefits of land development

(e.g., economically, socially)? What are the drawbacks of it (e.g.,

environmentally, socially)? Are there land-use issues that are getting

attention in your community?

Alternative energy is a hot current issue, with many people encouraging the use and development of other sources of energy besides fossil fuels and gas (e.g., wind power, solar energy, and water power). Some say that the use of alternative energy is a solution for meeting increasing energy demands and a means of protecting the environment.

Discussion Topic 3

How should government address the development of alternative energy sources? Should government, business and industry, or both fund research and development of alternative energy solutions? Explain your position. Should government place a higher priority on

expanding offshore drilling, advancing nuclear energy, or researching other alternative energies? Explain your position.

What are some of the benefits associated with alternative energies?

What are some of the drawbacks associated with alternative energies?

What is the public's responsibility regarding energy use?

Advantages & DisadvantagesBubble Map

Advantages

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2 Disadvantages

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Offshore Oil Drilling

Position EssayUsing one of the discussion topics presented, compose a three paragraph essay that covers the points proposed &/or discussed in class. You may use any resource to complete this assignment. Incomplete work, by the end of class, is homework.