Thank you for your letter of 9th May, 1997 concerning oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier. I have carefully noted the points you make and have now had the opportunity to discuss them with my colleagues. Hydrocarbon exploration and production in environmentally sensitive areas is one of the most significant challenges facing both the oil industry and organisations concerned for the environment. I recognise that Amoco and Greenpeace approach this question from very different standpoints, but we are more than ready to open a dialogue with you and I hope it may be possible to achieve at least a degree of mutual understanding. There are many ways in which such discussions might be promoted, but one which comes to mind is the "Denizens of the Deep" conference which you are organising at the School of Oriental and African Studies on 23rd June. A number of representatives of Amoco will be attending that conference and I should like to propose that they arrange to meet you and your colleagues then. I shall have a member of my staff get in touch with you very soon to see if this might be arranged. In the meantime; you ask three specific questions in your letter, which I shall endeavour to answer: First, we are under an obligation to the U.K. Govermnent under the terms of our exploration licence to carry out an exploration programme in the Atlantic Frontier province and we cannot, in good faith, fail to fulfil that obligation. We fully recognise the enviromnental sensitivity of the area and the paucity of information on which to base decisions on environmental management. As a company and through the Atlantic Frontier Environmental Network, we have been actively promoting the collection of new information which is leading to a better understanding af the ecology of the area as a whole. Secondly, while careful management of fossil fuel use is necessary to achieve the aims of the various conventions on climate change, this is a matter for wider national and international policy. The U.K. is just one part of a global energy market and any reduction in output of oil or gas here would rapidly be made up by production from other, equally environmentally important, regions. Ever increasing demand for energy would make that inevitable and education of the consumer, rather than regulation of the producer, is perhaps the way forward. Thirdly, we do not think it is for industry to exert pressure on the Government to implement specific policies on the reduction of carbon emissions, but we shall be continuing to take steps to improve the energy efficiency of our own operations. I very much hope that Amoco and Greenpeace may be able to initiate a constructive dialogue on these, and other, highly important questions. I hope, also that it may be possible for us to meet in the near future. Yours sincerely, Clive Fowler