Renowned Biologist Expresses Concerns Over 'Energy Boom' To Tulsans

Her community suffered through the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, and Tuesday night, renowned biologist and community organizer Dr. Rikki Ott brought her concerns about the current energy boom to Tulsa.

"Don't believe the federal or state government will take care of you. Don't believe that industry will take care of you," she said.

Ott shared her long list of concerns with Clean Energy Future OK, but said people here should be most concerned about crude oil being shipped on our railroads and tar, sands, oil and liquid natural gas moving through local pipelines.

"The horror that was visited in my community could be happening anywhere in America right now,” Ott said. “In our towns, in our big urban areas, and I'm here, kind of, to alert people to what they might want to consider."

Ott said communities need to strike a balance between economic development and preventative safety measures.