Shell faces walrus roadblock in Alaska

Green groups are pressuring US authorities to revoke the conditional approval of Shell's 2015 Arctic oil exploration plan because it conflicts with established rules that protect walruses. A 2013 rule implemented by the Fish & Wildlife Service, a bureau of the Interior Department, prevents energy companies from exploring for oil simultaneously at wells in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska that are within 15 miles (24 kilometres) of each other. The rule is meant to protect walrus populations that are sensitive to the noise and disruption of drilling in their habitat, according to a Reuters report. But according to 10 environmental groups, Shell's plan calls for simultaneous drilling in the Chukchi for wells, no two which are more than 15 miles apart. The groups, including Oceana, Sierra Club and Greenpeace, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell pointing out the alleged violation. Interior conditionally approved Shell's plan in May...more