Greenwire: Royal Dutch Shell PLC has received a federal permit the company needed to begin exploratory drilling in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea, federal officials announced late Friday.
U.S. EPA issued a permit covering air pollutants emitted from the drill ship and supporting vessels the company needs to drill two exploratory wells off Alaska’s northern coast. This ends a nearly four year wait for Shell, which needed the approval to use an ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel and other technological advances, EPA said in a statement.
“This permit ensures that exploration and drilling will occur in a way that protects air quality,” said Rick Albright, director of the air, waste and toxics issues for EPA’s Seattle office.
Shell will use a single drill ship and a fleet of support vessels to drill the Sivulliq and Torpedo prospects, which contain hydrocarbons.
Environmentalists and native groups are worried the drilling will release more emissions of carbon dioxide, hurting the people and wildlife in a region already affected by climate change (Yereth Rosen, Reuters, April 10). – JP