By Kim Murph: March 1, 2012, 7:24 p.m.
Reporting from SeattleWith conflict brewing over Shells plans to begin exploratory drilling in the U.S. Arctic this summer, a federal judge in Anchorage has issued a temporary restraining order banning Greenpeace activists from launching operations against the companys two drilling rigs.
U.S. District Judge Sharon L. Gleason on Thursday granted the oil companys request for an order preventing activists from repeating their recent stunt off New Zealand, in which Greenpeace drilling opponents mounted the Noble Discoverer drilling rig and impeded its departure for North America.
Other recent and past actions confirm Greenpeaces intent to do what it takes to prevent Shell from carrying out its Arctic exploration drilling program and, more broadly, to kick the oil companies out of the Arctic, Royal Dutch Shell lawyers said in their motion.