These are the kind of election consequences I like to see. In The Guardian Suzanne Goldenberg writes about the Obama Administrations ordering of a sweeping review of Shell's plans to drill in the Arctic, after a series of mishaps ending with the New Year grounding of the company's Kulluk rig.
Due to excellent reporting on this site we have become knowledgeable about the debacle called the Kulluk. Shell oils Man of La Mancha redux and it's attempt to drill for oil in one of the most pristine and endangered locations on our planet.
Fortunately, we're not the only ones taking notice as the Obama Administration 1s raising the possibility that Shell may be forced to re-evaluate its proposals
The review – and a separate investigation of the grounding of the Kulluk – raises the possibility that Shell, after investing six years and $5bn trying to extract oil in harsh and remote conditions, may be forced to re-evaluate entirely its plans to drill in the Arctic.
The high-level review will home in on some of the most difficult moments for Shell since it began exploring for oil beneath the Beaufort and Chukchi seas last summer: a series of equipment breakdowns and safety and environmental violations.
[...]
"Our review will look at Shell's management and operations in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas," said Tommy Beaudreau, the director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy and Management, who will be heading the 60-day review. "We will assess Shell's performance in the Arctic's challenging environment."
The Obama administration has been under growing pressure from Arctic scientists, environmental groups and activists to reconsider its decision to open up the Arctic to oil companies. Let's keep up the pressure.