The oil and energy industry, accustomed to getting what it wants when it comes to untapped oil and gas fields to drill, has been repeatedly frustrated in its attempts to get its hands on the sweet, sweet petroleum lying under the ecologically sensitive tundra of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. But after years of failing to secure drilling rights, it looks like the industry might get a nice consolation prize from the Department of Fish and Wildlife.

DFW is considering a land swap with Doyon Corporation -- a Fairbanks-based concern owned by the Athabaskan tribe -- in which the agency would transfer outright 110,000 acres of oil-laden upland territory within the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge to the energy developer, plus mineral rights to another 97,000 acres. In exchange, the refuge would gain 150,000 acres of wetlands now controlled by Doyon, plus 56,500 acres that fall under pending land claims owned by the company.

We're of mixed feelings on the matter. On the one hand, wetland protection is a great and necessary thing, and Alaskan wetlands are summer migration destinations for birds from all over North America and Asia. Some birds migrate from as far as Yunnan Province, China to southern Alaska.

On the other hand, we have to point out that despite industry assurances to the contrary, the impact of oil development extends far past the footprint of the drill pads, roads, and pipelines that are constructed. Roads and development chop contiguous habitat into smaller chunks, and small chunks of territory tend to support lower biodiversity than larger ones.

Also, the noise, human presence, and inevitable pollution of roads and rigs have lasting effects on the reproductive success of tundra animals and the health of tundra plants. In a tundra ecosystem that's already incredibly delicate in the best of times, and which stands to be affected worse and more rapidly by global climate change than more temperate areas, it's tough to support additional energy development.