US officials have granted Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell conditional approval to begin drilling exploration wells in the Arctic Ocean from next year, in a move swiftly slammed by conservationists as "inexcusable."
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama, under pressure over high gasoline prices, Saturday committed to annual oil and gas lease sales in Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve and to speeding up production in other areas.
The Interior Department is offering oil and gas leases on 1.8 million acres of Alaska's National Petroleum Reserve while promising to protect critical migratory bird and caribou habitat.
