Then there's the lingering question of how effective chemical dispersants or oil-munching microbes are in the frigid Arctic environment.
The unforgiving Arctic environment is far riskier; icy, turbulent waters would make oil spills hard to contain.
The polar bear's diet is dictated by the Arctic environment, as little vegetation grows within its range.
Imagine the desolation of the Arctic environment around it, getting harsher as winter approaches.
Its failure could leave pilots exposed to the harsh Arctic environment as they await rescue.
That said, the prints tell us much about the Inuit and their relationship to the harsh Arctic environment.
But the key question is whether these activities can be carried out without damaging the pristine Arctic environment.
Sea ice is seen as important because of its disappearance could lead to other important changes to the Arctic environment.
"The traditional culture will be hard hit," says Jesper Madsen, director of the department of Arctic environment at the University of Aarhus in Denmark.
"We still want to protect the Arctic environment," said Larry Houle, general manager of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, a trade group for oil subcontractors.
Environmentalists and several experts have warned that any oil spill would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to clean up due to the fragile yet inhospitable Arctic environment.
