WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — On Monday, the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved Shell’s multi-year exploration plan to drill for oil in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska’s coast.
“Despite the fact that Shell had put in an application for exploration in this region several years ago, we delayed it for a very lengthy period of time until they could provide us with the kinds of assurances that we have not seen before taking account of the extraordinary challenges if, in fact, there were a leak that far north.”
The company received the drilling permission even though it has not operated in the Arctic since 2012 when it faced a number of safety and operation difficulties, including an oil rig running aground.
“Based on those very high standards Shell had to go back to the drawing board, revamp its approach, and the experts at this point have concluded they have met those standards.”
Environmental groups like Greenpeace, as well as the independent US Arctic Research Commission have argued that environmental cleanup in the Arctic would be extremely difficult given the harsh environment and logistical issues.
The United States has experienced a number of maritime oil and gas disasters, including the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and the 1989 Exxon Valdez crash in Alaska’s Prince William Sound, which left behind long-term environmental destruction and economic hardship.
