Royal Dutch Shell was issued another federal authorization for its plans to drill in Arctic waters today.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service delivered a letter of authorization allowing for the possible harassment of polar bears and Pacific walrus as part of Shell’s drilling program.
Included in the authorization were measures Shell must take to minimize their impact, one of those being a minimum spacing of 15 miles between all drill rigs or seismic survey vessels.
Although that was one of the guidelines sought by conservation groups, members of those groups are still calling on the Obama administration to stop Shell’s drill plans for the Arctic.
Numerous drill permits are still required but if Shell secures the necessary permits the company could begin drilling in the Chukchi Sea in mid-July.
The company’s plan is to drill up to four exploration wells over two years.
The first drill rig, the Polar Pioneer, left Seattle earlier this month; the second drill rig, the 572-foot Noble Discoverer, has just left Washington State headed to Alaska.