[capitan_refugio]

I realize your post is meant to be sarcastic, but the issue of petroleum production and the environment is not "either/or." If you study the issue, you will realize that petroleum resourses are found only in a limited number of geologic settings. That these places are also "scenic" (an esthetic judgement, at best) does not mean that oil and gas production can not also occur.

By way of example, the Los Padres National Forest, north of the Los Angeles and Ventura area is very scenic. I hike there and also have in the past taken educational field trip there. Oil production has been occuring, harmoniously and unobtrusively, in the area now designated National Forest, wilderness areas, and condor preserve for over 125 years. In fact, the access to the area is by old oil field roads and trails.

[Blzbba]

I agree.

Given the general laziness and stubbornness of all human beings, I say let's hurry up & suck all of Earth's oil out of the ground as quickly as possible so we can then force ourselves to find a cheaper, healthier alternative.

There's no way that we'll stop sucking the oily teats of the Earth until it's (oil) all gone, so the quicker we do that, the quicker we'll be forced to find an alternative.

And as you said, this can be done with minimal environmental intrusion so that limp-wristed, bunny-hugging argument can't be used.