I've respected your opinion on other topics, Slayer, and still do here though I don't completely agree with them. I'm going edit out some of your reply for brevity, but hope to preserve the points.They’ve become quite good bringing in people, equipment and necessities, doing the job, packing up and leaving. You ask why go to the trouble, and I counter with why not?
ANWR exists at the behest of government. it is, by its very existence interference from man. You can argue the merits of such interference and the nobility of purpose, but it is interference from man and as I said the most poor representation of the species. Government workers.
We are quoting past each other, and really just arguing. I disagree with your assertion.
Oil is a profit driven industry and getting sued definitely cuts into profits, whether or not the suit is successful. So, these safety companies make their money helping to ensure as many obvious issues that can be avoided, are avoided.
Altruism and profit align in this regard. While it may cost money to have the safety crews around and following their recommendations definitely cost money, it’s less money than even a minor accident.
Yes, they may be good at bringing in people, equipment and supplies. Why not go through all the trouble? Unnecessary duplication, and spreading the risk over even more area. The trouble associated with dealing with an emergency should one arise during an arctic winter. If we can localize risk (aboard a tanker, at the port, in the pipeline, at the refinery), why not do so then localize the emergency response equipment/personnel in that same area? That's as opposed to spreading some of that risk to a more difficult to reach area, and having to stage more equipment/personnel there, or endure the time delay in getting them from wherever they are staged to the site of the incident. It's about efficiency and avoiding duplication. Plus, bringing everything up there is going to require trucks. Lots of trucks. Lots of fuel burning trucks. Increased fuel demand with an already finite supply is going to result in even higher fuel prices.
I get your point about ANWR existing at the behest of gov't. I still don't get how that's the most poor representation of or species-preserving unspoiled land in that state. I dunno, maybe we just agree to disagree on this one.
Yes, oil is a profit driven industry. Your points could be valid, so could this one: Similar to the decision Ford made in regards to the exploding Pinto gas tanks, any payout due to lawsuits would be less than costs to prevent or remedy the situation. This would include the up-front costs to install all the safety and monitoring equipment, staff it (monitoring it), repair and maintain it over it's lifetime, and replace it at the end of it's service life. If their calculations show this cost is less than any potential legal payouts, then unless it's required by the government, it won't happen. Then when (and I believe it's a 'when', not an 'if') the accident happens, natural land is irreperably damaged (they were still finding oil residue in 2001, 21 years after the Exxon Valdez spill. It lingers in the environment).