EXPLORATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)

Americans aren't extremists about energy policy. Just 4 percent told Los Angeles Times interviewers that commercial oil and gas drilling, mining, and logging should be allowed on all public lands, and 16 percent were at the other end of the spectrum, believing that no public lands should be open for such activity. Seventy-three percent want decisions made on a case-by-case basis. Americans are cautious about oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, but they are supportive of opening up some protected areas.

 
Question: How much commercial oil and gas drilling, 
mining, and logging do you think the federal 
government should permit on public lands? 
 
Commercial oil and gas drilling, 
mining, and logging should be 
allowed on all public lands        4% 
 
Be restricted to specific areas 
on a case-by-case basis            73 
 
No public lands should 
be opened for drilling, 
mining, and logging                16 
 
Source: The Los Angeles Times, April 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from a bar graph. 
Question: I'm going to read you two statements about 
oil and gas exploration in the United States and I'd 
like to know which one comes closer to your point of 
view. 
 
Our first priority should be protecting 
the environment, even if it means that 
energy supplies would be more limited            43% 
 
Our first priority should be developing energy 
supplies in the U.S. even if it means making 
some compromises on the environment              48 
 
Source: NBC News/Wall 
Street Journal, June 2001. 
 
Note: Table made from a bar graph. 
Question: Finally here are some things that can 
be done to deal with the energy situation. For 
each one, please say whether you ...? 
 
Oppose            ...