Shell says Gulf offshore oil disaster won't slow Arctic exploration
by Christopher Eshleman
FAIRBANKS — Royal Dutch Shell said it doesn’t expect a high-profile offshore oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico to slow its summer Arctic exploration plans, but a Fairbanks environmental group is urging greater caution before allowing work in northern waters.
The days-old Gulf spill, unplugged as of late Wednesday despite efforts by multimillion-dollar cleanup teams, occurred weeks after Shell and ConocoPhillips said they would increase exploration in the Chukchi sea and surrounding Beaufort waters. The companies hold hundreds of exploratory leases in the Arctic. Early this month, Shell, which holds most of those leases, secured important air quality permits from the Environmental Protection Agency for exploration in the Chukchi and Beaufort.
Shell spokesman Curtis Smith in Anchorage said the company still needs a few other environmental permits but doesn’t expect major issues as it nears the start of its $300 million exploration plan.
“We don’t have any reason to believe those outstanding permits will be impacted by recent events in the Gulf of Mexico,” Smith said by e-mail.
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