U.S. approves oil-spill plan for ArcticFebruary 18, 2012 - 16:58 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. officials have approved an oil-spill plan for Royal Dutch Shell PLC as the company looks to begin drilling in the Arctic, saying Friday, Feb 17 that Shell has demonstrated its ability to respond to potential spills in icy waters despite protests from environmental groups. The approval, granted by the U.S. Interior Department, helps pave the way for Shell to begin drilling in the Chukchi Sea this summer after years of preparation for the project. Shell still has to obtain drilling permits from the Interior Department before it can move forward. "We are taking a cautious approach," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a statement. Environmental groups have asked the Interior Department to block, or at least postpone, drilling in the Arctic Ocean until oil companies are better equipped to handle spills in waters that freeze over for many months of the year. They have also raised more general objections to drilling in the region, saying that little is known about the region's wildlife and ecosystems. In approving Shell's oil-spill response plan, a crucial part of the federal permitting process, the Interior Department said the company met new requirements adopted after BP PLC's Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Shell had to prove that it could respond to a spill that released five times as much oil as a previous contingency plan and make additional preparations for emergencies, The Wall Street Journal reported. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Macron honors Charles Aznavour on 100th anniversary French President Emmanuel Macron has paid tribute to the memory of French-Armenian crooner Charles Aznavour. Blinken says U.S. reviewing a number of aid requests from Armenia He said the U.S. is reviewing the requests to determine what more it can do to increase its assistance to Armenia. At least 2 CSTO members participated in preparing 44-day war against Armenia – PM Nikol Pashinyan has declared that at least two CSTO member countries participated in preparations for the 44-day war against Armenia. Armenia PM meets Iran’s Supreme Leader in Tehran Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Seyyed Ali Khamenei |