The feds have removed an obstacle to Arctic offshore drilling by Shell. Last week, the Obama administration approve Shell Gulf of Mexico’s emergency response plan if something goes wrong with exploratory drilling in the Chukchi Sea. The plan includes a fleet of response vessels nearby, a secondary drill to dig a relief well if something goes wrong with first, a full time federal inspector, and a capping and containment system. Environmentalists say, yeah, right. “This is a premature decision,” wrote Marilyn Heiman, director of the U.S. Arctic program for the Pew Environment Group. “Ideally, they need two to three more years to really do this safely — to get the science right, to protect wildlife areas and to get equipment that’s been designed for and tested in the Arctic.” Drilling could begin this summer. Via LA Times.

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