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June 28, 2012

Obama Admin "Highly Likely" to Approve Shell Drilling Bid in Arctic 
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The Obama administration says it expects to authorize the oil giant
Shell's bid to drill in the Alaskan Arctic. Alaska Native groups and
environmental groups have opposed the effort, saying the federal
government had failed to properly consider the risks. But speaking this
week, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said it is "highly likely" he will
grant the permits to begin drilling as early as next month. Citing
recent tests by Shell in Washington State's Puget Sound, Salazar said:
"I believe there will not be an oil spill. If there is, I think the
response capability is there to arrest the problem very quickly and
minimize damage." Just last week, the Obama administration conducted a
$1.7 billion auction for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico for the first
time since the area was hit by the worst oil spill in U.S. history.

 

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