US Coast Guard preps for Shell’s potential Arctic oil drilling

New York Times : Environmentalists aren’t the only ones who are concerned about Shell Oil’s proposed drilling of exploratory wells off the Arctic coast of Alaska. The US Coast Guard is also assessing the situation. Besides the carbon dioxide emissions and potential spills, Coast Guard officials anticipate that emergencies could arise, such as a vessel becoming stranded and its crew needing to be airlifted to safety. The Arctic Circle has a harsh climate, with often-severe weather conditions—ice, darkness, and brutal storms—that could hinder a rescue operation. Currently the closest Coast Guard base is in Kodiak, Alaska, at least a 3- to 4-hour flight from the proposed drilling site. Adam Shaw, the chief of prevention for the Coast Guard in Alaska, is looking into leasing an airplane hangar in Barrow, which is closer to where Shell would be drilling. “Hopefully nothing happens,” he said. “If something does, hopefully Shell takes care of it. But if it doesn’t, we’ve got to jump in there.”