Shell's Spill Response Plan for Arctic Drilling Meets Environmental Laws, Says Judge

Published Aug 7, 2013 1:57 PM by The Maritime Executive

A U.S. district court judge has ruled that Shell’s oil spill response plan for their Artic drilling program in Alaska does not violate environmental laws.

Environmental activists brought numerous cases to the court last year claiming that Shell’s Artic drilling plans violated the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Plaintiffs had asked that the courts void drilling approvals already granted by regulators. These regulators subsequently suggested that the conservation groups had misunderstood the laws. The presiding judge ruled in favor of Shell and the government by maintaining the original approvals.

The official ruling determined that the U.S. Interior Department’s (DOI) process was thorough. However, the judge did emphasize that the approvals from the DOI were not an authorization for any activity, but simply a reassurance that Shell’s response plans met regulatory and statutory requirements for worst-case scenarios.

The original suits against Shell said that the company’s spill response plans were based on the assumption that the company would clean up 95 percent of the oil before it contacts the shoreline, which they claim is a level of success that has never been achieved in any spill situation before.

Shell welcomed the ruling, and highlighted that their spill response plan has always been aligned with Department of Interior regulations. That plan includes the assembly of a 24/7 on-site, near shore and onshore Arctic-class oil spill response fleet, collaboration with the US Coast Guard and an Arctic capping system. According to a Shell spokesperson, the company has also spent an unparalleled amount of time, technology, and resources, preparing for worst-case scenarios.