Arctic sea floor mapping data bolsters U.S. claims (to oil)

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Federal scientists on Monday said new seafloor data bolsters any claims the U.S. might make to a vast swath of natural resources in the Arctic.

The mapping expedition in August and September 2007 found that the foot of Alaska's continental slope extends more than 100 nautical miles farther from the U.S. coast than previously thought.

The data is from the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northern coast. It would support the U.S. should it choose to jockey with Russia, Canada and other Arctic nations under the international Law of the Sea treaty for access to potentially rich stores of oil and gas in the region.

The treaty confers sovereign rights over a country's continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles if the country can substantiate its claims through scientific evidence.


Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/nation/20080211-1006-wst-arcticgrab.html

[xxqqqzme]

1. under this mal-administration, isn't

'Federal scientists' an oxymoron?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. There's a LOT of controversy up here

about drilling in the Chukchi Sea. I hope it doesn't happen, myself. The National Geographic "6 Degrees" presentation last night should have made it abundantly apparent to even the most entrenched knuckledragger that we have to get off this addiction to hydrocarbons.

[sharp_stick]

3. Funny how everyone is now coming out with "new" seafloor maps

We gotta get it before anyone else does. But how can we say that it's Alaska's slope and not Canada's, hell maybe Canada can lay claim to Alaska now.

[dbackjon]

4. Even if we never drill, this is important to know

Otherwise, Russia, China, or others could drill in international waters, and we could do nothing about it.

[Arctic Dave]

5. Two things

First, I think it is interesting to see how Alaska has become the "new" place for exploration again. I'm thinking maybe because Iraq has went down the toilet and the oil companies are now realizing that their hope of screwing them out of their oil isn't going to happen like planned. Second, I don't think people understand how difficult oil drilling in the Chukchi Sea would be. Most offshore exploration and drilling on the North Slope is maybe ten miles off shore at the most and this is being done next to existing infrastructure. I think people are wishful thinking that drilling out that far is even possible plus there is zero onshore support/infrastructure in this region even if they could drill out there.

P.S.
Hi, Blue in AK

:hi:

[Hugabear]

6. Well isn't that fucking convenient

HANDS OFF, motherfuckers. Are there no limits to the lust of Big Oil for new areas to rape?