Obama suspends Arctic oil drilling plans
Permits for exploratory wells delayed until next year as US government evaluates technology and spill risks
The Obama administration is suspending proposed
The US interior secretary, Ken Salazar, will say in
a report to the White House today that he will not consider
applications for permits to drill in the Arctic until 2011.
on leases as far as 140 miles offshore.
An administration official familiar with the plan said S
alazar wanted to allow further study of proposed drilling technology
and oil spill response capabilities in Arctic waters.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan is not yet public.
Salazar has said he wants to take a cautious approach in the Arctic.
Barack Obama ordered Salazar to conduct a review of
the nation's offshore oil drilling safety after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill last month.
In March Obama and Salazar cancelled a planned
was proposed by the Bush administration.
They cancelled four scheduled lease sales in
the Chukchi and Beaufort seas and said no additional leases
would be offered there until more scientific data was collected.
An administration official said Salazar believed fisheries,
tourism and environmental values in Bristol Bay made the area
inappropriate for oil and gas drilling.
Shell, which has leases in both the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas,
had sought to begin drilling five exploratory wells in those areas this summer.
Salazar's announcement means those wells will not be considered until 2011.
Salazar is directing the US Geological Survey to conduct an
independent evaluation of oil spill risks and spill response capabilities in the state.
Shell Oil, the US arm of Royal Dutch Shell, has the backing of
Alaska's political leaders. With few exceptions they support offshore drilling.
About 90% of Alaska's general fund revenue comes from the petroleum industry.
State leaders look to offshore oil to provide jobs and keep the trans-Alaska pipeline
from running dry.
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