The Royal Dutch Shell has managed a very crucial approval from the US government to further its plan of drilling in the Arctic Waters, a campaign much criticized by the campaigners for environment safety.
The recent approval is the latest Obama move to encourage more production of oil and gas from offshore fields. The plan however witnessed a setback last year following the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management came to a conclusion that the drilling will not cause any significant impact on the ocean life as well as the wildlife surrounding it. The Bureau – a US Government Agency is responsible of the offshore leasing. But Shell is of the opinion that the conditions imposed by the US Government shall severely affect its plans.
Shell had acquired lease to carry on drilling in the Chukchi Sea near the north-west coast of Alaska in the year 2008; but has been several times prevented by legal actions to carry out drilling. It also failed in 2010 to get the necessary permits.
However the latest BOEM permits gives the much coveted green signal to Shell for drilling in Chukchi Sea and also in the adjoining Beaufort Sea North of Alaska. Shell shall resume drilling the wells in the next summer of 2012.
Shell however needs to secure another set of permits from the Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement which is the watchman of the offshore areas, and shall approve Shell’s plans to counter accidents and oil spills.
Shell had faced severe opposition from the environmentalists to block drilling in the Arctic Ocean. They are of the opinion that any accident or spill in the region might have catastrophic effects on the adjoining environment including the flora and fauna that is dependent on the sea. A representative of the Natural Resource Defense Council opines that the Government’s decision might lead to disasters.
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