Ninth Circuit upholds MMS approval of Shell Arctic drilling

[The Straight Story]

Ninth Circuit upholds MMS approval of Shell Arctic drilling

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld the U.S. Minerals Management's approval of Shell's exploration plans for the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas. A coalition of environmental and Alaska Native groups had contested the decisions but the court rejected the appeals after a May 6 hearing before a three-judge panel of the court.

The decision indicated that the MMS complied with federal law in approving the exploration plans. The two-page 9th Circuit decision stated the panel reviewed "thousands of pages" of records and concluded MMS met its obligations under the National Environmental Policy Act.

The opinion further stated: "Based on our thorough review of the record, we also conclude that the MMS's decision to approve Shell's exploration plans under (Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act) was 'supported by substantial evidence on the record considered as a whole.'"

Shell Alaska Venture vice president Pete Slaiby said he was "delighted" by the decision.

"It once again demonstrates that Shell has submitted a robust, safe plan for exploration in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas," Slaiby said. "It is important to keep in mind that several more hurdles are needed to cross before our 2010 plans can be executed. In light of the recent spill in the Gulf of Mexico we are working heard to identify additional measures that could be incorporated into our original program to make it even stronger.

http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/051410/loc_ncu.shtml

[BrklynLiberal]

1. I am sure we have nothing to worry about since the "MMS complied with federal law in approving the

exploration plans"

:mad: :puke: :spank: :grr: :nuke:

[Nikki Stone1]

2. I'd laugh if it weren't so pathetic.

:(