To the Editor:

Re “A Rush to Drill, Because We Can,” by William deBuys (Op-Ed, July 19 ), about how wonders of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge “now appear doomed by America’s fossil fuel addiction” :

How much of the current economy’s strength is a result of excesses permitted through the relaxation of rules or the absence of enforcement by the Trump administration?

Under its watch, air and water quality, animal life, human health and land conservation have all suffered from regulatory rollbacks under the legal framework meant to protect them. When will we as a nation recognize we’re beginning to gag on the “free lunch” that ignoring environmental harms brings?

Lise Stone

New York