Climate change in the Arctic is a documented fact. To argue the issue of who or why as cause is an exercise of diverting resources and attention away from the immediate issues at risk. The immediate issue is that studies of climate change and subsequent shifts in caribou/parasite relationships have not been conducted. Studies conducted in the 1980's are out of date and do not now, nor did they ever reflect an Arctic environment in the process of such change; the reports do however, outside the compounding matter of climate change, document and indicate the negative impact that development will have upon the region and its' wildlife. Why is this information denied the public?

During the Arctic summer season within the 1002 region of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge there exists a dynamic flow of air and polar influenced temperature currents that flow unobstructed across the Arctic Coastal Plain. The east-west traverse of the Brooks Range, the limiting counter to the southward migration of these polar currents, represents a barrier, the initial transition zone in which the cool polar climate yields to the warmer, intercontinental land mass influences. As temperatures warm, compounding the lack of quality graze, the prevalence of warble flies relegates the near mountains a "hot zone": few caribou, if any, remain in residence.

Across the Arctic Coastal Plain, the transition of cooler air to warmer threshold temperatures creates a thermal barrier, south of which enables the Warble Fly to function. This thermal barrier flows and shifts endlessly across the coastal plain, solely at the whim of air and thermal currents.

The prevalence of cooler temperatures north of this transition zone tend to suppress or completely shut down Warble activity; this ever shifting region of cooler air/insect relief, is sanctuary to the caribou.

It is exactly the free and unimpeded access to this dynamic sanctuary that enable caribou to mitigate stress and parasitic Warble Fly infestation.

In addition to the heat induced stress upon the caribou, the warmest summer temperatures of the Arctic Coastal Plain forces a northward migration of this cool-warm transition zone. At these times it is likely that parasite relief is only available at the immediate coastline: the warmth of air temperatures south of the coast, virtually relegating the balance of the region uninhabitable due to excessive Warble fly activity.

While the actual surface area of these regions may be fractional in context of the total land mass of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, these regions represent critical habitat for caribou. Within the sanctuary of the 1002, these regions exist as "Super-Sanctuary" enabling caribou to mitigate Warble infestation even in face of the most extreme environmental pressures. Climate change will only intensify the seasonal duration and necessity of caribou to access undisturbed "Super-Sanctuary".

It is valid to deduce that if disturbed and denied access to the 1002 and subsequent super-sanctuaries, that caribou would likely face greatly increased levels of warble fly infestation and suffer the consequences thereof: poorer health, lower birth rates, higher mortality.

Oil development within the 1002 poses a compromise of critically sensitive habitat. Without new and appropriate studies to determine the extent of compromise, the act of development constitutes no less than a willful and negligent indifference to Arctic life. Is it possible that the caribou have been relegated the status of "expendable asset", an expense to be written off?

In her left hand, how credible can be Gale Norton's oozing concern for the newly rediscovered Ivory-Billed Woodpecker while with her right hand she seeks the compromise of North America's greatest wilderness.

I can only hope that oil is not discovered beneath the Ivory-Billed's nesting tree.

I can only hope that the ranks of those that grow weary of such hypocrisy, find their voice before it becomes too late.

Arthur C. Smith III