By Alexis Flynn
Published September 15, 2011 Dow Jones Newswires
LONDON -(Dow Jones)- Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSA.LN) may be prosecuted for the U.K.’s worst oil spill in a decade after Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne confirmed an investigation into a 10-day leak from the oil major’s Gannet Alpha platform last month will be sent to Scotland’s public prosecutor.
“My department and the Health and Safety Executive have commenced investigations into the cause of the incident,” said Huhne, adding it would likely “take some months.”
“A full report will be sent to the procurator fiscal to consider whether a prosecution is appropriate,” Huhne said.
Previously, the DECC had said the findings of the investigation would only be sent to the procurator fiscal “if appropriate.”
About 218 metric tons of oil–equivalent to 1,300 barrels–spilled into the North Sea from a leaking undersea pipeline at the North Sea platform between Aug. 10 and 19.
Huhne said the DECC was initially informed on Aug. 10 of a surface oil sheen and told a leak had occurred. However, he was then told by Shell that the leak had been stemmed the following day.
On Friday Aug. 12, aerial surveillance in the late afternoon showed the leak was continuing “with significant potential for pollution,” said Huhne. Shell only confirmed the leak to journalists later that day, leading to criticism from some environmental groups and Scottish politicians about its slow disclosure of the incident.
Shell wasn’t immediately available to comment when contacted by Dow Jones Newswires.
Copyright � 2011 Dow Jones Newswires
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
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A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
