SHELL GETS GREEN LIGHT TO DRILL: signaling a dangerous time for North Slope communities

 

SHELL GETS GREEN LIGHT TO DRILL

Signaling a dangerous time for North Slope communities

Anchorage, AK—It’s a sad day for many Native Alaskan’s living on the North Slope as the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issues final approvals for Shell to drill in the Chukchi Sea this summer. 

Federal government failed at every turn to protect the Arctic and Chukchi Sea.

“Federal regulators have stated repeatedly that Shell’s drilling plan is ‘not expected to adversely affect’ the environment, subsistence activities or wildlife yet it has approved the harassment for over 28,000 whales and marine mammals and the release of a wall of drilling sludge over ten feet thick at the drill sites” said Mark Gutman, a biologist with Chukchi Sea Watch.   “These approved releases will continue to ooze toxic chemicals and could eventually wipe out the benthic community adjacent to Hanna Shoal, a critical foraging area for walrus and many other marine mammals”, said Gutman. 

Climate change, industry bullying and risk of region-wide oil spill wield triple injustice. 

“People in the North Slope villages are subject to constant bullying and intimidation by Shell.  Many people are worried for our ocean, the very source of our food, culture and health, but they cannot speak because they could lose their jobs, be ostracized, possibly even lose their homes” said an anonymous associate of Chukchi Sea Watch who lives in Wainwright, Shell’s main base for its Chukchi Sea operations.

Alaska’s North Slope villages are on the front lines of a disaster in the making.

“Villages up and down the North Slope are already dealing with so many new challenges and risks because of climate change.  They are getting hit again with Shell’s invasion of their land and communities and yet again with the 75% prospect of a devastating spill”, said Ceal Smith, an Ecologist also with the new Chukchi Sea Watch group.  “The Iñupiat know better than anyone else how harsh and unpredictable the Chukchi Sea is and how futile efforts to clean up the oil, when it comes, will be.  It’s going to be a worry-filled and dangerous summer for our friends on the North Slope”, said Smith.

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