Shell gets OK for Arctic drilling prep

[The Straight Story]

Shell gets OK for Arctic drilling prep

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- The Obama administration has granted Royal Dutch Shell permission to begin drilling preparations off the coast of Alaska, bringing the region a step closer to offshore oil production.
The news drew swift criticism from environmental groups that claim such drilling can't be done safely in the Arctic.

The government's Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said Thursday that Shell (RDSA) has been authorized to perform "certain limited preparatory activities" in the Chukchi Sea off the Alaskan coast. The activities include the installation of a safety feature below the sea floor related to blowout prevention.

The company's applications to drill into potential oil reservoirs "remain under review," the bureau said.

"Shell will not be authorized to drill into areas that may contain oil unless and until the required spill containment system is fully certified, inspected, and located in the Arctic," bureau director James Watson said in a statement.

http://money.cnn.com/2012/08/30/news/companies/shell-arctic/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

[Mojorabbit]

1. Amazing isn't it. :( nt

[The Straight Story]

4. And sadly, not shocking (nt)

[HiPointDem]

5. apparently few here care.

[Blue_In_AK]

8. It's a big deal to us here in Alaska.

Drilling up there is a terrible idea, and Shell has been having one problem after another with this start- up.

[HiPointDem]

9. any chance it's a big enough deal to get the public to make a big stink?

[Blue_In_AK]

10. Too many oilies up here.

The breakdown on most issues is 60-40 with our side on the losing end. You would be amazed at how many elections here are determined on that split.

Oil is both a blessing and a curse here. Oil royalties pay for 85% of our state government, so consequently the big oil companies have a great deal of power. The opinions of us "greenies" are pretty well drowned out. ConocoPhillips likes to bill itself as "alaska's oil company," but in reality it's more like " Alaska, ConocoPhillips' colony.". It's pretty sad, really. I liked it better back in the old days before the pipeline when we paid taxes and felt like we had a say in how we're governed. Oil has totally corrupted our politics.

[HiPointDem]

11. i didn't realize that. interesting, thanks.

[limpyhobbler]

2. This is climate change denial.

[ellisonz]

3. Because nothing could ever go wrong with offshore drilling...

...in the most extreme environments on Earth.

[sakabatou]

6. Ugh...

[Solly Mack]

7. K&R