Mar 31, 2019:
Deceptions may sink plans to drill for oil in the Arctic Refuge | The Hill
Dec 20, 2016:
The Obama administration announced that it will implement a permanent ban on offshore drilling in most of the U.S.-controlled Arctic as well as off much of the Atlantic Seaboard.
The announcement is not an executive order, but instead employs a 1953 law entitled the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, specifically provision 12(a), which "empowers the president to 'from time to time, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer continental shelf.'"
Canada Prime Minister Trudeau made a similar announcement which permanently bans Arctic drilling, with 5-year reviews.
Read the details of the announcement in press release entitled "United States-Canada Joint Arctic Leaders' Statement" here.
Source:
Dlouhy, Jennifer A. (May 24, 2016). "Offshore Drilling Foes Invoke 1953 Law to Prod Obama on U.S. Ban". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
President Obama Issues Permanent Arctic Drilling Ban Before Leaving Office | Time
Obama cuts Arctic waters from five-year drilling plan | Politico
Oct 16, 2015:
In a press release entitled "Interior Department Cancels Arctic Offshore Lease Sales" the U.S. Department of the Interior cancelled two potential Arctic offshore lease sales scheduled under the current five-year offshore oil and gas leasing program for 2012-2017.
In the press release, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell is quoted as saying '"In light of Shell's announcement, the amount of acreage already under lease and current market conditions, it does not make sense to prepare for lease sales in the Arctic in the next year and a half."'.
U.S. Cancels Remaining Arctic Oil Lease Sales Under Obama | Bloomberg News
Sep 28, 2015:
Royal Dutch Shell announced it would cease oil exploration in the Chukchi Sea for the foreseeable future because it's recent exploratory drilling found only limited amounts of oil and gas.
Shell pulls the plug on Arctic exploration for now | Reuters
Aug 17, 2015:
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Director Brian Salerno announced that Shell has received approval to conduct exploratory drilling activities into potential oil-bearing zones offshore Alaska.
"Activities conducted offshore Alaska are being held to the highest safety, environmental protection, and emergency response standards," said Salerno. "Now that the required well control system is in place and can be deployed, Shell will be allowed to explore into oil-bearing zones for Burger J. We will continue to monitor their work around the clock to ensure the utmost safety and environmental stewardship."
Here's a list of safety requirements:
- All phases of an offshore Arctic program – preparations, drilling, maritime and emergency response operations – must be integrated and subject to strong operator management and government oversight, as detailed in Shell's Integrated Operations Plan
- A shortened drilling season to allow time for open-water emergency response and relief rig operations late in the drilling season before projected ice encroachment
- Capping stack must be pre-staged and available for use within 24 hours
- A tested subsea containment system must be deployable within eight days
- The capability to drill a same season relief well
- A robust suite of measures to avoid and minimize adverse impacts to marine mammals and their habitat, impacts to Native subsistence activities, and other environmental impacts
- Drilling units and their supporting vessels must depart the Chukchi Sea at the conclusion of each exploration drilling season
Specifically:
- Shell must maintain a minimum spacing of 15 miles between active drill rigs during exploration activities to avoid significant effects on walruses in the region.
- Shell is required to have trained wildlife observers on all drilling units and support vessels to minimize impacts to protected species.
- Shell must stay within explicitly outlined vessel operating speeds and report daily regarding all vessel transits.
- BSEE safety inspectors have been present on the drilling units Noble Discoverer and Transocean Polar Pioneer 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide continuous oversight and monitoring of all approved activities. The inspectors are authorized to take immediate action to ensure compliance and safety, including cessation of all drilling activities, if necessary. BSEE experts have been engaged in thorough inspections of both drilling units and Shell's response equipment.
Source:
(August 17, 2015). "BSEE Approves Updated Permit for Exploration Activities in Arctic Waters Under Rigorous Safety Requirements". Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Retrieved 2015-08-23.
'Both sides are unhappy': Obama's Arctic drilling green light heightens tensions | The Guardian
Jul 31, 2015:
Yesterday, authorities forced protesters from the St. Johns Bridge and the Willamette River so Royal Dutch Shell's Fennica icebreaker could safely make its way downriver.
Ship Bound for Arctic Leaves Portland | U.S. News & World Report
Jul 29, 2015:
Thirteen environmental activists have suspended themselves from the St. Johns Bridge over the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon in an attempt to block Royal Dutch Shell's Fennica icebreaker from making its way to the Pacific Ocean and the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska. Kayakers in the Willamette River are also a part of the protest.
Jul 25, 2015:
Royal Dutch Shell's Fennica icebreaker arrived in Portland, Oregon for repairs. The ship carries the capping stack required in the case of a well blowout.
Jul 22, 2015:
The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (an agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior) conditionally approved two drilling permits allowing Royal Dutch Shell to begin limited exploratory drilling activities in the Chukchi Sea. The approval limits Shell to drilling only the top sections of wells and does not allow Shell to drill into oil-bearing zones because Shell does not have a capping stack nearby to cap a well in the event of a blowout.
Source:
(July 22, 2015). "BSEE Approves Limited Drilling Activities in Arctic Waters Under Rigorous Safety Requirements". Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. Retrieved 2015-07-25.
Government Awards Shell Final Approvals for Chukchi Sea Exploration Drilling | Oceana
Jul 13, 2015:
Royal Dutch Shell said it's Fennica icebreaker will be sent to Portland, Oregon to repair a 39-inch gash in it's hull.
Shell's damaged Arctic drilling support ship heads to Oregon | Reuters
May 11, 2015:
In a press release entitled "BOEM Conditionally Approves Shell's Revised Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan" the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management conditionally approved a multi-year Chukchi Sea exploration plan submitted by Shell Gulf of Mexico, Inc.
U.S. Will Allow Drilling for Oil in Arctic Ocean | The New York Times
Jan 27, 2015:
President Obama designated 9.8 million acres in the waters of the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas off Alaska's coast as off-limits to consideration for future oil and gas leasing.
President Obama Protects Untouched Marine Wilderness in Alaska | whitehouse.gov
Federal Move To Block Drilling Another ‘Major Insult' to Alaska | alaskasenate.org
Jan 25, 2015:
President Obama announced plans to ask Congress to designate the Coastal Plain and other core areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as wilderness.
President Obama Calls on Congress to Protect Arctic Refuge as Wilderness | whitehouse.gov
Obama Administration Moves to Protect Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | doi.gov
Obama Seeks Wilderness Designation for Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | EcoWatch
Plan to Protect Refuge Has Alaskans Offended and Fearful Over Money | The New York Times
'Too precious' to drill, baby drill? | CNN
Obama Seeks Wilderness Designation for Coastal Plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | NRDC
Dec 16, 2014:
President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum -- Withdrawal of Certain Areas of the United States Outer Continental Shelf from Leasing Disposition which revokes his memorandum issued on March 31, 2010, and prohibits further oil and gas leasing in the offshore Bristol Bay area of the North Aleutian Basin in Alaska indefinitely.
Five important facts about Bristol Bay and the President's actions:
- Bristol Bay provides 40 percent of America's wild-caught seafood.
- Bristol Bay hosts one of the world's largest wild salmon runs.
- Bristol Bay is home to multiple threatened species.
- The President's action protects millions of acres from drilling.
- President Obama is not the only president to use his executive authority to protect lands.
Source:
(December 16, 2014). "5 Things You Need to Know About Alaska's Bristol Bay". The White House. Retrieved 2015-01-29.
Aug 28, 2014:
Royal Dutch Shell submitted a plan to the U.S. Government stating it wants to resume oil exploration in the Chukchi Sea off the north shore of Alaska.
Shell Submits a Plan for New Exploration of Alaskan Arctic Oil | The New York Times
Jan 30, 2014:
Shell Oil cancelled plans to drill in the Chukchi Sea off the north shore of Alaska.
Shell's Arctic dreams postponed another year | CNN
Jan 1, 2013:
One of two oil rigs owned and operated by Shell Oil is beached on an island in the Gulf of Alaska after breaking away from a tow ship.
Rig Runs Aground in Alaska, Reviving Fears About Arctic Drilling | The New York Times
Shell Oil's Arctic Drilling Accidents | NRDC
Mar 31, 2010:
President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum--United States Outer Continental Shelf which prohibits further oil and gas leasing in the offshore Bristol Bay area of the North Aleutian Basin in Alaska through June 30, 2017.
Mar 24, 1989:
The Exxon Valdez spilled about 11,000,000 gallons of oil into Prince William Sound, Alaska.
Exxon Valdex Oil Spill Questions and Answers | Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Council
More:
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | Alaska | U.S.Fish & Wildlife Service
- America's Wildest Refuge | Alaska Geographic
- America's Wildest Refuge Discovering the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge | YouTube
- After 25 years, Exxon Valdez oil spill hasn't ended | CNN
- Oil Remains: The Persistence, Toxicity, and Impact of Exxon Valdez Oil | Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Council
- Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Council