Unalaska, AK – The World Wildlife Fund will be hosting films and discussions about potential off-shore drilling in the North Aleutian Basin tonight and tomorrow. The organization is trying to educate people about the potential risks of oil and gas development in the region before they make comments to the Obama administration about opening up the area to potential lease sales. Currently the area is not available for sale. The administration is accepting comments on the issue until September 21 and will decide whether or not to open the region this fall.

WWF representative Verner Wilson says the risks of oil and gas drilling in the region start at the exploration stage with seismic testing.

"Seismic is known to kill fish larvae and impact fish habitat on the ground and to kill fish near by," he says. "So that could potentially effect our pollock stocks, our salmon stocks. The area they're trying to drill has important habitats for juvenile pollock and salmon."

Seismic data for the potential lease sale area is about 20 years old and needs to be re-done. Wilson says other concerns lie in polluted discharges from the drills and equipment as well as the potential for spills. He says he understands that the development projects could provide a short-term boost to the economy - staging that might take place in Unalaska only takes about 4 years - but the community needs to consider long-term impacts.

"I understand, because southwestern Alaska is hurting economically, but I feel like we need to be smart about it. That's why I'm here to spearhead a discussion to talk about the facts, to talk about the potential impacts off-shore drilling."

Wilson will host a movie screening tonight of "Black Wave" about the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill and it's lasting impacts at 7 pm at the World War II Visitors' Center. Friday evening he welcomes community members to a short presentation and discussion at 7 pm at the City Council Chambers.