Appeals court rules against Bush administration Arctic drilling plan
Ruling on the first of several major new projects for tapping oil and gas deposits from the Arctic floor, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the federal government should have prepared a more exhaustive environmental review before concluding that harm to whales, caribou and other Arctic wildlife either would be insignificant or could be mitigated.
In a 2-1 decision, the court ordered the federal Minerals Management Agency to prepare a more thorough review, a decision that probably puts the offshore exploration plan up for new consideration under the administration of Barack Obama. Environmentalists have fought the plan, saying it could have disastrous consequences for Arctic wildlife.
I think the new administration can respond to this decision by calling for a timeout on new exploration and leasing in the Arctic Ocean until a full review of potential impacts and conservation measures is completed, said Eric Jorgensen, managing attorney at Earthjustice in Juneau, Alaska.
Rebecca Noblin of the Center for Biological Diversity, one of several plaintiffs in the case, said in a statement: If polar bears and other ice-dependent species are to survive as the Arctic melts in the face of global warming, we need to protect their critical habitat, not turn it into an industrial zone.
Officials at Shell Offshore Inc., which has proposed to drill up to 12 exploratory wells in the Arctic s Beaufort Sea over the next three years, said they were convinced that the company had met or exceeded requirements for environmental analysis -- including how noise from exploratory drilling might affect the migration patterns of fish, endangered bowhead whales and caribou, which give birth in the nearby Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
The U.S. faces an energy supply crisis, and delays like this only extend and aggravate it. In times of shrinking global supply and ever increasing reliance on imported oil, the Alaska offshore could be a significant resource for national energy security, Shell said in a statement.
Republican Gov. Sarah Palin, who has urged the nation to take better advantage of Alaska s untapped oil and gas resources, expressed determination to get the project back on track.
We re disappointed, but will work with the company moving forward from here, said her chief spokesman, Bill McAllister.
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Oh, do not worry, drilling is environmentally safe. That is the rhetoric we hear from proponents who want to drill baby, drill. And that is all it is... rhetoric. There is no way to drill for oil that will not affect the wildlife and inhabitants in this area. Time and time again the Bush regime has shown its total disdain for the environment and the lives of those their destructive policies touch. This ruling by the 9th circuit court of appeals reaffirms that the rule of law takes precedence over any man or woman (Governor Palin, I am pointing at YOU) and their greed.
Instead of calculating ways to now steal the resources below the Arctic for corporate profit we should be working on ways to preserve it and its habitat for future generations and those who live there now. This is also one area I will be looking at regarding the Obama administration. Drilling is a false choice and if Obama and his Congress permit this to happen just to not piss off Republicans who want it over the moral imperative, it will speak volumes about their priorities as well. Bi-partisanship is one thing, but capitulation to an immoral principle for political expedience is quite another.
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- JanforGore
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- JanforGore To the species that cannot speak for themselves
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- bmltv
- added November 21, 2008
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Justice prevails!
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The Cost Of Oil: Voices From The Arctic.
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Good news.
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- lamborghini
- 8 months ago
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Thank you once again 9th Circuit Court for not bowing to pressure and ignorance.
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Temporary, I am sure, since so much money is involved. But we the people have a voice in this too... there are alternative sources of renewable energy, Congress...
But this Palin reference... on the campaign trail one day she fought the big oil companies, the next she was being cutesey with drill baby drill...
Just wondering, what is her record on oil profits vs environmental protection?
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- ninepounds6
- 8 months ago
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She seems like a typical politician who plays both sides to not have to commit because campaign contributions and her own career mean more to her. Obama does it as well concerning stating he will reduce emissions to appeal to environmentalists while touting 'clean coal' (which does not exist and is also a false choice) to keep coal companies supporting him. Just like he came out for drilling during the campaign.
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- JanforGore
- 8 months ago
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Not to my knowledge she hasn't.
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- JanforGore
- 8 months ago
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Oh Thank God!! PLEASE DO NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!!
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- ssppeencceerr
- 8 months ago
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Oh, and SHELL: The only crisis you face is trying to reconcile your greed with your total lack of morality.They also know oil is not a renewable resource so like a drug addict they will now go searching for new veins instead of looking to the visionary alternate energy sources that could power this country while respecting the lives, livelihoods and traditions of those who live in these areas. There is absolutely no excuse for what Shell or any oil company seeks to do in the Arctic.
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Shell Positioning Itself As Asian Energy Solutions Provider.
I believe this is what their exploitation of the Arctic is all about. Americans who think this oil would get to their tanks are very naive.This is about PROFIT, and the Asian markets would make them more profit than actually putting it in our tanks. They are also then willfully contributing to the climate change that is already bringing suffering to many around the globe and the melting of the Arctic. That is simply unprofessional and immoral.
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IF it wasn" for you flipin democrats blocking the US
from off shore drilling we could save 700 billion
dollars, brake free from Venezuela, Saudi Arabias
strangle hold on the US & SECURE our BORDERS
create many new JOBS & be better energy efficient.
And start getting on the road to energy
independence. NOW thats the kind of CHANGE
this county needs! NOT OBAMA'S change.-
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- moneytalks
- 8 months ago
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Sorry, your change only leads to disaster and the same pollution and climate change that will tip the climate balance of this planet. You really want energy independence? Look up instead of down. And FYI, I am not a 'flippin democrat' nor a goosestepping Republican. I put this planet first.
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This is so absurd. I don't think anymore money should be invested in Offshore drilling. How about some renewable resources?
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Good to see drilling isn't going to happen anytime soon. In the meantime, maybe we should pursue new technologies? Just a thought.
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- jacijacijaci
- 8 months ago
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- wiredbirds
- 8 months ago
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Well, I'm glad people are resisting this more clearly to obtain a stay of execution, however "they" have been trying to squeeze every dollar possible out of the oil market, and they are devious to no end! I am convinced that the whole Palin choice for VP was just to keep her on board in the Alaska oil grab! Just say no to more drilling! Keep up the good fight!
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Thank the god i don't believe in, we are drilling our own graves! Glad to see people standing up against this kind of crap.
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- krush_productions
- 8 months ago
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The Day The Water Died
The Exxon Valdez
NEVER AGAIN.
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Finally. Some real good news.
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We just need to get away from oil, period! Its time for a new solution, to embrace our new economy...
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they need more oil to keep cheney running. he gets about 3 gallons/mile.
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FANTASTIC NEWS! This is some of our last remaining pristine land & sea in the Arctic dating back to the ice age. The nearby Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is truly the last frontier that many species of plants & animals need to survive or face extinction.
It's time to get over the "If we keep drilling for oil, we'll be energy self-sufficient... " mentality & keep investing in sustainable energy sources. The elements that surround us - wind, water, solar & thermal - will certainly generate jobs, technological advancements & most importantly - energy self-sufficiency for the U.S. while the rest of the world, that hasn’t already begun this process, watches & learns of alternatives to oil.
Thanks to The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) & their relentless pursuit of environmental justice by keeping our public lands just that - public for future generations & not available for private profiteering to the highest bidder. Never forget that the Exxon Valdez caused the worst environmental maritime disaster in history - the one that they said could never happen. They blew their chance after spending nearly 20 years in court defending a drunk Captain Hazelwood & getting their fine reduced to a measly $500 million instead of putting that money to better use by finishing the clean up they swore was their top priority for Alaska – while it was still newsworthy.
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- darkhorsejim
- 8 months ago
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Now if we could just get that polar bear a life vest!
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- Headiesofstate
- 8 months ago
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Yes it is good news. Now let' s not see this administration of "change" come in and reverse it to appease the Republicans they claim they want to "work with" and the Democrats who go along with it because they are cowards.
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- JanforGore
- 8 months ago
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