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Arctic Drilling: a spectacular failure of good judgment by Shell

Screen Shot 2014-08-06 at 09.25.26Kim Elton accuses Shell’s management of “a spectacular failure of good judgment” and points out that “Company managers ordered the Kulluk towed south through the winter-storm-lashed Gulf of Alaska before the 2013 new year — partly to avoid Alaska taxes.”

By John Donovan

Kim Elton, a former senior adviser to the U.S. Department of the Interior, who was involved in oversight of Shell’s 2012 Arctic drilling plans, has made some very blunt comments about the debacle. 

Kim admits that she “fell for Shell’s promise that their drill fleet was ready to tackle the Arctic.”

She says Shell’s “dive into the Arctic Ocean was a spectacular belly flop”and lists the disastrous chain of events, reminding us that “Shell incurred more than $1 million in fines for air quality violations.”

Kim accuses Shell’s management of “a spectacular failure of good judgment” and points out that “Company managers ordered the Kulluk towed south through the winter-storm-lashed Gulf of Alaska before the 2013 new year — partly to avoid Alaska taxes.”

Her conclusion: “Shell, by its actions in 2012 and its new efforts to avoid reasonable safety regs, is proving this multinational is unworthy of the Arctic.”

Kim Elton served four years as senior adviser on Alaska affairs to former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

For more information read her article in Alaska Dispatch News:

Shell has no business asking for fewer requirements in Arctic drilling

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One Comment

  1. Earl Richards says:

    Shell has to be kicked-out of Alaska, until they clean-up their mess in the Nigerian delta.