As the May 16 article pointed out ("Gulf isn't the only place suffering oil's filthy aftermath"), there is a huge cost to oil that most of us do not see or think about. In just more than 40 days, Shell Oil will begin exploratory drilling, similar to that in the Gulf, in the Arctic Ocean. In the Arctic, there is no technology to clean up an oil spill in the extremely icy and stormy conditions, and nowhere near the response capability that is present in the Gulf. Before we lose another amazing coastal area to irreversible damage, President Obama must call for a timeout on all exploration activities.

LOIS NORRGARD, BLOOMINGTON