FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 30, 2012
Contact: Virginia Cramer, 804-225-9113 x 102
Shell Receives Approval to Start Arctic Drilling Prep Work
Royal Dutch Shell today received permission to begin preparations to drill in the Arctic’s Chukchi Sea despite the fact that its oil spill response vessel is not yet certified or in place.
In response Dan Ritzman, Sierra Club Arctic Program Director issued the following statement.
“The reality is that we don’t know what Shell will encounter when they begin drilling to lay the groundwork for wells in the Polar Bear Seas. Allowing the company to move ahead without a vital piece of its oil spill response plan unnecessarily increases the risk to Arctic waters, wildlife and communities.
Shell’s inability to meet the safety and pollution requirements it agreed to presents a disturbing trend. The company must be held accountable at every step in the process. It should not be allowed to get a jumpstart on drilling or extend its drilling season simply because of poor preparation.”
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