Environmental groups challenge Shell drilling plan (AP)

By HARRY r. WEBER, Associated Press Harry r. Weber, Associated Press - 47 minutes ago

ATLANTA - environmental groups asked a Federal Court of appeal lay by a decision of the Government of U.S. to approve a Shell Oil exploration plan that includes five wells proposed more than 7,000 feet of water in the Gulf of the Mexico.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Regulation and application of the Act approved the plan in May. The plan includes also three wells already approved 72 miles off the coast of Louisiana.

Defenders of wildlife, the Center for biological diversity and the claim of Natural Resources Defense Council in a petition filed Thursday in the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of appeals in Atlanta, that the decision contravenes the law and that the environment would cause if it is.

New regulations for drilling in deep water was imposed after the deadly rig explosion of last year and the Gulf oil spill.

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Greenpeace activists arrested on oil drilling in the Arctic: the police (AFP)

Copenhagen (AFP) - two Greenpeace activists who scaled a platform for oil drilling off the coast of Greenland weekend to protest oil exploration in the Arctic were arrested during the night, police and environmental group, said Thursday.

"Last night, the police decided the time was right, and we have arrested two activists," Deputy police Chief of Greenland Morten Nielsen told AFP.

"They are being transported Nuuk (capital of Greenland) and it will be determined if they they will go before a judge", he added.

Greenpeace also said that two activists of 25 years, Luke Jones of Britain and Hannah Mchardy to the United States, had been arrested after having suspended in a "survival pod" under the platform of "leiv eiriksson" 53, 00-tonne four days.

"Our climbers are now in jail, but that won't stop it we opposed to the folly of drilling for oil that we can to burn and a region where a spill would be nearly impossible to clean," international Greenpeace militant oil Ben Ayliffe said in a statement.

The two activists arrived by Zodiac rubber early Sunday to the platform of 53 000 tonnes, which should begin to drill for oil (110 km) at 180 kilometres off the West coast of Greenland, to society Scottish Cairn Energy.

Greenpeace said the position of the pod prevented the drilling rig, but Cairn told AFP that it was not as drilling was no plan to start.

Deputy Chief of police Nielsen, said that the operation was led by the local police of Greenland is a semiautonomous Danish territory, but that the Danish Navy had been seen where rescue efforts are necessary.

Shortly before midnight (0000 GMT Thursday) "a mounted team operating from the platform broke in the pod", Greenpeace said, adding "Danish marine inflatable boats have been positioned below climbers.".

Cairn meanwhile said that he sought a court injunction to Netherlands against Greenpeace and the owners of its ships the MS Esperanza and the MS Arctic Sunrise.

"Cairn is asking for an order of the court requiring Greenpeace and ship owners to refrain from future disruption of legitimate operations of the offshore Cairn, in Greenland," said the statement.

Ayliff of Greenpeace described the move of the company as "try to us a legal hammer close our campaign for the launch of the oil companies of the Arctic."

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Tougher regulations come to PA drilling companies. Marcellus Shale? (ContributorNetwork)

Many gas wells of Marcellus Shale located across Pennsylvania could provide a shot in the arm of the State's economy, the creation of more than 45 000 jobs, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, but several environmental groups and residents are concerned about the effects the process used has on the ecosystem and the quality of the State of the water. With the recently classified Susquehanna River more endangered to the United States administration same Governor Tom Corbett appealed to the more severe laws and regulations on the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking for natural gas, the Associated Press reports.

The Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Michael Krancer, recently made a series of recommendations to Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission of the Governor. The AP, these recommendations are limit gas drilling within 1,000 feet of any public water supply. Also included that report is a need to clarify the authority of the DEP to revoke or question of permit drilling and the strengthening of the sanctions per day for all violations.

Four environmental groups also represented on the Advisory Board of Marcellus Shale, agree that regulations better planning and more strict are in order for companies fracking for gas in Pennsylvania, under the new Patriot. These groups wish to make a request by the DEP for all drilling wastewater not to take to processing plants where he leaves in the rivers to be transformed into an enforceable right. Some groups also support a tax or tax on gas from shale, with collected money devoted to green initiatives. Groups to also support a provision that would allow the State to collect comprehensive information on chemicals injected into the soil to extract the gas.

A number of different regulations and drilling proposals led her to forth in the Government of Pennsylvania since last year. Many of these proposals and recommendations have been the lack of actions by State legislators. The Government wants to strike a balance and partnership with drilling companies so that they continue to do business in the State. However, the legacy of the fracking process can come at a price uncomfortable environment for residents. If legislation will be complete is soon mysterious, but the consultative Commission Marcellus shale is due to submit his comprehensive report in July of this year.

Jason Gallagher is a former resident professional Pennsylvania and long trip. These experiences give him a first-hand look to developing situations in the State and everything what is included in the travel technology trends industry.

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EPA and Shell Oil near agreement on Arctic drilling permits (ContributorNetwork)

According to the Wall Street Journal, Royal Dutch Shell is close to receive three critics of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permits to move forward with offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean in a region North of the coast of Alaska.

Shell Oil has spent years investing money in its potential venture drilling in the Arctic region. In fact, Shell has already spent 2 billion dollars on leases only in the region and $ 4 billion more in the development of the plans necessary to go ahead with the drilling at sea off the coast of the Alaskan coast. However, Shell Oil has hit an obstacle at the end of April, after the EPA blocked the company Big Oil to acquire licenses for air drilling in the Arctic. Initially, Shell Oil announced it would reduce the plans for drilling, in the region but decided to continue the oil companies.

The New York Times reported that on Friday, the EPA and Shell have been closed to reach an agreement to permit air despite many setbacks the oil company had. Returned the EPA Environmental Appeals Board helped the Federal regulatory agencies, perhaps attach plans still further.

But now, the EPA went forward with working on the permits and Gina McCarthy, EPA Office of Air and radiation speaks of the House energy and Commerce Committee and stated that the EPA does not seek to undergo shell drilling plans. The New York Times CITES McCarthy, who said: "I believe that we are very close to fort permits allowing them to have actually three current drilling activity in the Arctic in a manner which is the protection of public health and under current law."

House Republicans are also preparing a bill that would allow companies to drill in the Arctic region planning examination of the environmental Appeal Board, which finally slowed Shell to receive permits.

According to the Journal of Commerce from Alaska, Big oil Shell oil just submitted ten new plans Thursday passed for offshore drilling in the Beaufort Sea and the Chukchi Sea in the Arctic Ocean North of Alaska. Shell submitted plans for the Office of the regulation of management of the oceans energy and execution (BOEMRE) to have the opportunity to drill in the region over the next two years.

Rachel Krech provides a thorough analysis of local environmental issues current and new in Chicago. As a student of the suburbs of Chicago, seeking to obtain two degrees of science, applied his knowledge and his passion for the two subjects to gather more public awareness.

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