The construction of the Alaskan Pipeline brought up many impacts on the land, both good and bad. Many believed the positive impact of pipelines could easily overshadow the environmental harm caused by the hundreds of miles of piping. The piping flows through natural biomes, upsets animal trails, and carries with it the potential of a devastating leak or spill that could destroy fragile habitats.

The question remains, is the pipeline worth approximately 8 billion dollars? Is the oil transported more valuable than the land that will be changed due to 800 miles of steel piping?

We depend on land for subsistence, residence, and other necessities of life. Land provides food, raw materials, and shelter. Land determines agricultural production, influences economic growth, maintains ecological balance, and fulfills the people's basic needs.

Commercial fishermen dread what would become of their livelihoods if the pipeline were to disrupt their fishing grounds. The native people of Alaska feared that their culture would be decimated. 

The expansion of large pipelines can negatively affect fragile ecosystems in arid regions of Alaska. Another major issue regarding pipeline construction is the sheer amount of land they cover. Major interstate oil and gas pipelines are usually covered by eminent domain, meaning it would be impossible for local landowners to stop the pipeline from being built if the pipeline's path went right through a valuable part of their land.

Alaska should not give up its land for the pipeline construction, but preserve it for the wildlife that depends on the land.