Salazar Delays Arctic Drilling!

[ProSense]

Salazar Delays Arctic Drilling!

by Senor Unoball

In light of the Gulf gusher, the Obama administration is apparently backing down from proposed oil drilling that was slated to begin this summer in the Arctic Ocean.

Shell had proposed exploratory drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas; this drilling is now said to be on hold for at least a year.

This is great news for environmentalists and those who care for the Arctic ecosystems!

An administration official familiar with the plan said Salazar wants to allow further study of proposed drilling technology and oil spill response capabilities in Arctic waters. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet public.

See SF Gate story for further details.

I hope the delay will turn into a permanent halt, of course, but this is a great start. From the time that this exploration was planned, members of Audubon Alaska, Alaska Wilderness League, and others had stressed the sheer impossibility of cleanup as a main reason to block drilling in the Arctic Ocean.

It doesn't take a genius to see that a spill in Arctic waters, especially in icy and wintry conditions, could never be cleaned. Hell, they cannot clean the calm beaches of the Louisiana; does anybody think they'd be able to clean the rocky shores of Barrow or Point Hope?

For more details and objections, see The Alaska Wilderness League and Audubon Alaska.

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[ShortnFiery]

1. Based on recent past experience with Salazar, we need to see this moratorium

in LEGAL WRITING. Then I'll believe this proclamation as "the truth." :(

[pinto]

2. Thanks for adding the alaskawild.org and ak.audubon.org links here as well.

:kick:

[Kdillard]

3. Good news. I hope it becomes permanent.