"Shell has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to loosen air pollution requirements for its Discoverer drill rig, which is planning to begin exploratory drilling operations off the North Slope of Alaska early next month."
"In its application to the agency, dated June 28, Shell said the Discoverer cannot meet the requirements for emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia of an air permit granted by the E.P.A. in January. The company also asked for a minor air permit modification for its Kulluk drill ship, which is also supposed to begin work in the Arctic in the coming weeks.
An E.P.A. spokeswoman said the agency was reviewing the applications. Curtis Smith, a Shell spokesman, said he did not expect the permit changes to affect the drilling schedule, which has been set back several weeks because of unusually heavy sea ice.
Greenpeace and other groups opposed to oil and gas exploration in the Arctic said that Shell was trying at the 11th hour to change the terms under which it was granted permission to drill."
John M. Broder reports for the New York Times July 13, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Greenpeace Activists Shut Down 45 Shell Petrol Stations" (Guardian)
"Shell Asks EPA to Bend Air Pollution Rules So It Can Drill in Arctic" (treehugger)
"Shell Drill Ship Slips Moorings, Drifts Toward Alaska Shore" (Reuters)
Advertisement 
