ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Obama administration approved Shell’s oil spill response plan for the Beaufort Sea on Wednesday.
It was one of two outstanding federal permissions the company needs to proceed with its Arctic offshore drilling program this summer.
Shell is still waiting for an EPA air permit for one of its drilling rigs.
The company plans to explore for oil in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas starting in July.
Environmental and some native groups have challenged the process, saying that there is no way to effectively clean up an oil spill in the Arctic.
