NRDC reports that we have scored a big victory against big oil in Alaska's Chukchi Sea. The previous regime authorized opening up the Arctic seas in US jurisdiction to unrestricted oil exploration in its waning days in power. The move was a resource grab reminiscent of the Oklahoma land race. No environmental impacts of the executive action were studied in violation of NEPA and other federal laws. NRDC with its partners sued to get the issued permits revoked. A federal district court judge has agreed with the petitioners in the suit. The Chukchi Sea is home to America's polar bears where they hunt on the disappearing sea ice. Unrestricted oil exploration would certainly have hastened the dreadful day when the magnificent bears may go extinct due to climate change. The battle goes on against big oil as Shell prepares to drill off the coast of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in the Beaufort Sea. Drilling on the OCS has been temporarily halted in the wake of the
Deepwater Horizon disaster, but the emphasis is on temporary.
Forty four's folks definitely want more domestic oil exploration as a partial fix for this nation's fossil fuel addiction. If you want to help NRDC defend wild places and the creatures who live there make a
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