SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
"Polar bear on sea ice. Alaska, Beaufort Sea." (Photo: NOAA Photo Library)
Chevron Halts Arctic Drilling Plans 'Indefinitely'
Decision 'further proof that technical challenges of drilling in icy waters, where a spill is all but inevitable.'—Farrah Khan, Greenpeace Canada
Dec 18, 2014
In a move cheered by environmental groups, Chevron has put its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic "on hold indefinitely," the energy company said Wednesday.
It had planned on drilling by 2020 in the Beaufort Sea, but in a letter to Canada's National Energy Board (NEB), Chevron cited "the level of economic uncertainty in the industry" for its decision, Reutersreports.
CBC News reports that Chevron has already spent over $100 million on exploration in the Beaufort Sea.
NEB policy is that companies engaged in drilling must be able to drill a "same season relief well" in the case of an out-of-control well--an ability, according to the Financial Times, Chevron said was "not feasible." Chevron was in the process of creating an alternate to such a relief well and have it meet approval of the regulatory body.
The Natural Resources Defense Council warned that such an alternative would set "a dangerous precedent for the Arctic," adding that there is a "lack of evidence and testing, especially in Arctic environments" that an equivalent safety measure was possible.
The suspension of the drilling plans is good news for the Arctic, Greenpeace Canada Arctic Campaigner Farrah Khan stated.
"Chevron's decision to indefinitely halt its Arctic oil drilling plans is further proof that technical challenges of drilling in icy waters, where a spill is all but inevitable, push costs far too high to be viable, especially with volatile oil prices," Khan stated.
Miyoko Sakashita, Oceans Director with the Center for Biological Diversity, welcomed the news as well, stating: "The Arctic should be off limits to oil drilling. It's too hazardous to drill in the frozen, stormy waters--and an oil spill would destroy pristine habitat for bowhead whales, polar bears, and ice seals."
An Unconstitutional Rampage
Trump and Musk are on an unconstitutional rampage, aiming for virtually every corner of the federal government. These two right-wing billionaires are targeting nurses, scientists, teachers, daycare providers, judges, veterans, air traffic controllers, and nuclear safety inspectors. No one is safe. The food stamps program, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are next. It’s an unprecedented disaster and a five-alarm fire, but there will be a reckoning. The people did not vote for this. The American people do not want this dystopian hellscape that hides behind claims of “efficiency.” Still, in reality, it is all a giveaway to corporate interests and the libertarian dreams of far-right oligarchs like Musk. Common Dreams is playing a vital role by reporting day and night on this orgy of corruption and greed, as well as what everyday people can do to organize and fight back. As a people-powered nonprofit news outlet, we cover issues the corporate media never will, but we can only continue with our readers’ support. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
In a move cheered by environmental groups, Chevron has put its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic "on hold indefinitely," the energy company said Wednesday.
It had planned on drilling by 2020 in the Beaufort Sea, but in a letter to Canada's National Energy Board (NEB), Chevron cited "the level of economic uncertainty in the industry" for its decision, Reutersreports.
CBC News reports that Chevron has already spent over $100 million on exploration in the Beaufort Sea.
NEB policy is that companies engaged in drilling must be able to drill a "same season relief well" in the case of an out-of-control well--an ability, according to the Financial Times, Chevron said was "not feasible." Chevron was in the process of creating an alternate to such a relief well and have it meet approval of the regulatory body.
The Natural Resources Defense Council warned that such an alternative would set "a dangerous precedent for the Arctic," adding that there is a "lack of evidence and testing, especially in Arctic environments" that an equivalent safety measure was possible.
The suspension of the drilling plans is good news for the Arctic, Greenpeace Canada Arctic Campaigner Farrah Khan stated.
"Chevron's decision to indefinitely halt its Arctic oil drilling plans is further proof that technical challenges of drilling in icy waters, where a spill is all but inevitable, push costs far too high to be viable, especially with volatile oil prices," Khan stated.
Miyoko Sakashita, Oceans Director with the Center for Biological Diversity, welcomed the news as well, stating: "The Arctic should be off limits to oil drilling. It's too hazardous to drill in the frozen, stormy waters--and an oil spill would destroy pristine habitat for bowhead whales, polar bears, and ice seals."
In a move cheered by environmental groups, Chevron has put its plans to drill for oil in the Arctic "on hold indefinitely," the energy company said Wednesday.
It had planned on drilling by 2020 in the Beaufort Sea, but in a letter to Canada's National Energy Board (NEB), Chevron cited "the level of economic uncertainty in the industry" for its decision, Reutersreports.
CBC News reports that Chevron has already spent over $100 million on exploration in the Beaufort Sea.
NEB policy is that companies engaged in drilling must be able to drill a "same season relief well" in the case of an out-of-control well--an ability, according to the Financial Times, Chevron said was "not feasible." Chevron was in the process of creating an alternate to such a relief well and have it meet approval of the regulatory body.
The Natural Resources Defense Council warned that such an alternative would set "a dangerous precedent for the Arctic," adding that there is a "lack of evidence and testing, especially in Arctic environments" that an equivalent safety measure was possible.
The suspension of the drilling plans is good news for the Arctic, Greenpeace Canada Arctic Campaigner Farrah Khan stated.
"Chevron's decision to indefinitely halt its Arctic oil drilling plans is further proof that technical challenges of drilling in icy waters, where a spill is all but inevitable, push costs far too high to be viable, especially with volatile oil prices," Khan stated.
Miyoko Sakashita, Oceans Director with the Center for Biological Diversity, welcomed the news as well, stating: "The Arctic should be off limits to oil drilling. It's too hazardous to drill in the frozen, stormy waters--and an oil spill would destroy pristine habitat for bowhead whales, polar bears, and ice seals."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.