(New York Times) In an important step toward ultimate approval of new oil drilling off the North Slope of Alaska, the Interior Department on Friday tentatively approved Shell’s plans for responding to a potential spill in the frigid Arctic waters. Shell still needs to cross several additional regulatory barriers before it will be permitted to begin drilling as many as six exploratory wells in the Chukchi Sea starting in July. But the green light from the Interior Department on its oil spill response plan is a clear sign that the Obama administration is disposed to allow the drilling when it believes adequate safeguards are in place.More
