The pristine waters of America’s Arctic Ocean are in danger. These waters provide critical habitat for iconic species such as polar bears, whales, and walrus that are already suffering the effects of dramatic climate change. Little is known about this region and about how this region may be impacted by oil drilling.

Yet, the Obama administration is determined to move forward with drilling. This could put oil drilling rigs into sensitive waters where an oil spill could have catastrophic effects. Information is missing to assess the impacts of drilling, let alone responsibly manage it. And no technology currently exists to clean up oil spilled in frozen seas.

Giving approval of more oil drilling leases is a move away from a clean energy economy and towards a deeper reliance on dirty fossil fuels while putting our Arctic Ocean and the wildlife that thrive there at unnecessary risk.

Urge Secretary Salazar to take a much more cautious approach to offshore oil drilling in these remote waters.