By DAN JOLING; Associated Press
Published: 11/29/11 11:48 am | Updated: 11/29/11 11:48 am
Nine Alaska Native and conservation groups have challenged a federal air permit granted by the Environmental Protection Agency for a second Shell Oil drilling rig intended for Arctic waters.
The groups last month appealed an air permit for the Discoverer and its support vessels. Environment law firm Earthjustice on Monday appealed the EPA permit for the drilling vessel Kulluk.
Shell hopes to use the vessels to drill in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas during the open-water season next summer.
The groups claim the drill ships would allow Shell to emit significant amounts of harmful pollution, setting an unhealthy precedent in the Arctic.
A Shell spokesman said last month the air permit appeals were anticipated but should be denied.
Anchorage Daily News reported this story at www.adn.com
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