Congressional leaders urge Obama to stop Arctic Drilling

In an open letter signed yesterday by 60 members of Congress, (including Ed Markey and Niki Tsongas) federal lawmakers called on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to halt all leases for the Arctic in the agency's five-year plan until a more sound review of disaster-response capabilities can be conducted. 

Two weeks ago, 573 scientists sent a letter to the White House urging the Obama Administration to take a science-based approach to issuing leases in the Arctic and to avoid opening up the region because of political pressure to expand drilling.

In addition, almost 400,000 people have asked President Obama to stop the sales of leases in the Department of Interior's five-year plan, according to the Alaska Wilderness League.