3 Factors Could Slow Arctic Drilling Despite Shell Go-Ahead

3 Factors Could Slow Arctic Drilling Despite Shell Go-Ahead

Apr 1st, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

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During 2012, the Royal Dutch Shell drilling rig Kulluk ran aground off a small island near Kodiak Island. PHOTOGRAPH BY U.S. COAST GUARD/AP

By Wendy Koch, National Geographic

PUBLISHED MARCH 30, 2015

Oil drilling in U.S. Arctic waters may return this summer now that Shell has cleared a key government hurdle. Still, an energy bonanza in the frigid north won’t happen anytime soon.

On Tuesday, shortly after the Obama administration pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, its Department of the Interior gave Shell the preliminary go-ahead. Inteior approved its environmental review of Shell’s controversial lease for multiyear drilling in the Chukchi Sea, off the coast of Alaska. The energy-rich Arctic is drawing renewed interest because global warming is melting sea ice and making it potentially easier to develop oil and gas.

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Posted in: Alaska, Arctic, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Environment, Gas, Greenpeace,Litigation, Oil, Oil Spill, Pollution, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Shell, United States.
Tagged: Beaufort Sea · Chukchi Sea · Oil · Royal Dutch Shell Plc · Shell

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Alaska oil and gas lease draws criticism

Alaska oil and gas lease draws criticism

Apr 1st, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

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Lease from 2008 tied up in courts because of environmental criticism.

By Daniel J. Graeber     |   UPI: April 1, 2015 

WASHINGTON, April 1 (UPI) — A decision from the Department of Interior to review energy exploration plans off the coast of Alaska is “unconscionable,” environmental groups said.

The federal government affirmed a 2008 lease sale for exploration in the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska. The decision means the Department of Interior will begin formal reviews of exploration plans in the region, which will include an environmental analysis.

The lease was tied in up the court system amid complaints about the extent of environmental vetting. A preliminary drilling campaign from Royal Dutch Shell off the Alaskan coast in 2012 was plagued by problems, including a grounded drilling rig, violations of air pollution limits, engine failures on a tow ship and an oil spill containment system damaged during testing.

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Posted in: Alaska, Arctic, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Environment, Greenpeace, Oil, Oil Spill, Pollution, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, United States.
Tagged: Alaska · Arctic Ocean · Beaufort Sea · Chukchi Sea · Gas · Oil · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

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Shell Oil Drilling Serious Threat to Russian Polar Bear Reserve: Greenpeace

Shell Oil Drilling Serious Threat to Russian Polar Bear Reserve: Greenpeace

Apr 1st, 2015 

by John Donovan. 

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The oil drilling operation of Shell in the Chukchi Sea can harm the vast population of polar bears and walruses living in the Wrangel Island reserve.

The oil drilling operation of Dutch oil giant Shell in the Chukchi Sea, which is a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean, is a threat to Russia’s Wrangel Island National Park, Greenpeace said in a report published on Wednesday.

“Shell has received government approval to drill exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea. Greenpeace found that this drilling threatens not only the nature of the United States, but also Russia, in particular — the famous Arctic Reserve ‘Wrangel Island’,” they said in a statement.

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Posted in: Alaska, Arctic, Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, Environment, Greenpeace, Oil Spill, Pollution, Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Shell, United States.
Tagged: Alaska · Arctic Ocean · Beaufort Sea · Chukchi Sea · Greenpeace · Royal Dutch Shell Plc

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THE DISGRACEFUL REPUBLICAN BUDGET

TAKE THE POLL: Do you think corporations are paying their fair share in federal taxes?

The Senate on Friday passed a budget that envisions more than $5 trillion in cuts over the coming decade by slashing health care and other benefits for working families and the middle class while leaving tax breaks in place for the wealthiest Americans and multi-national corporations. Twenty-seven million Americans would lose health insurance under the Republican plan as they eliminate the Affordable Care Act and make huge cuts to Medicaid. "What they are proposing is major cuts in programs for some of the most vulnerable people in this country — the elderly, children, sick and low-income people,” said Bernie, the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. “At the same time they want to give significant tax breaks to the wealthy and the large corporations.” During the week-long debate Republicans rejected proposals to create millions of new jobs, raise the minimum wage, help students afford college, and protect seniors on Social Security and Medicare.

	WATCH BERNIE RALLY WITH STUDENTS AGAINST BUDGET CUTS
	LISTEN TO BERNIE ON KQED IN SAN FRANCISCO

A DISGRACEFUL BUDGET       Bernie led the opposition to the Republican budget proposal during a week-long debate. He summed up the Republican plan during the floor debate. “We’ll make it harder for kids to go to college, we’ll throw people off health insurance, but we will not ask the rich and powerful to pay more in taxes,” he said. “Their intention is to balance the budget on the backs of the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor.”

REBUILD AMERICA       The Senate earlier in the week blocked another amendment from Bernie that would have encouraged a major investment in roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects and, in the process, support millions of construction jobs. Fifty-two Senate Republicans voted against that proposal.

RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE       Senate Republicans blocked Bernie's amendment calling for an increase in the minimum wage. “Since 1968, the real value of the federal minimum wage has fallen by close to 30 percent,” Bernie said before the vote. “Let us stand today with the tens of millions of workers who are struggling to put food on the table, to take care of their families. Let us raise the minimum wage." Bernie wants the federal minimum wage to go from the current $7.25 an hour to at least $10.10 an hour and eventually to $15 an hour.

IF YOU WANT A WAR, PAY FOR IT       An amendment from Sen. Marco Rubio would have increased military funding above caps Congress imposed on itself in 2011without offsetting cuts. Bernie told Rubio his measure undermined the Republicans’ avowed desire to reduce the federal budget deficit. "Enough is enough, if you want to go to war, start paying for it,” Bernie said.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL       Bernie's amendment was offered during the debate that would have recognized the reality of global climate change. It said climate change is real and caused by humans. Five Republicans voted for it, but that wasn’t enough to adopt the amendment.

EQUAL PAY FOR WOMEN       Also falling on similar nearly party-line votes were proposals to protect women in the workplace by ensuring equal pay for equal work.

HELP FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS       An amendment that called for reducing student debt by allowing borrowers with existing federal and private student loans to refinance their loans at lower interest rates was rejected by Republicans.

DEFEND SOCIAL SECURITY       An amendment co-sponsored by Bernie which called for no cuts to Social Security attracted five Republican votes and won by a 50-49 vote. On the other hand, no Republicans voted to expand Social Security benefits in an amendment that failed 42-56.

MUST READS

Trillion Dollar Fraudsters     Paul Krugman for The New York Times

The Middle Class Has Gotten Smaller In Every State Since 2000     Jenny Che for The Huffington Post

How China used more cement in 3 years than the U.S. did in the entire 20th Century     Ana Swanson for The Washington Post

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