GAO Raises Questions About Shell’s Arctic Drilling Plan

A new report from the Government Accountability Office – or GAO – raises questions about Shell’s plan to drill exploratory wells in the Arctic Ocean this summer. The report, released Friday, finds the Interior Department has strengthened oversight of oil and gas operators since the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico. It also says the industry is in a better position to respond to a similar blowout type incident. But the report points out containing a spill in the arctic would be much more difficult. Frank Rusco, an author of the report, says that’s partly because ice will form over the ocean in the fall and winter:

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Annie Feidt is the broadcast managing editor at Alaska Public Media. Reach her at afeidt@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Annie here

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