It's just an impossible standard. Figure that every area is unique, and fragile and has irr-replaceable resources that must be preserved. I'm certainly all for minimising water quality and the like. But the oil is *underground*; if it's done right, BFD. I would ask them "Where *is* it OK to drill, then? Where *is* it OK to log timber?" These questions are never raised - but Shangri-La must not be violated.
Now one argument I hear is "Those lands belong to all of us, etc.," Well, OK. What if "all of us" want to extract the resources contained therein? See where I'm going with this argument? It's not as if I want to strip mine the West - though I keep hearing this word "democracy" thrown around alot by the very same people who profess to think for us, as "they know better." Hm.