Millett Encouraged by MMS OK of Shell OCS Plan

(Anchorage) - House Special Committee on Energy Co-Chair Charisse Millett, R-Anchorage, released the following statement today regarding the federal Mineral Management Service's conditional approval of Shell Oil's Beaufort Sea exploration plans:

This is welcome and important news for Alaska workers and families.
~ Rep. Charisse Millett

"This is welcome and important news for Alaska workers and families," Millett said. "I implored Interior Secretary Salazar to allow this plan to move forward over the spring during testimony in Anchorage and am glad he and the MMS listened to all of our pro-development voices on this issue. Now it is up to Shell to prove that they can carry out an environmentally responsible drilling plan next summer. I am encouraged by the MMS decision today, and hope the Shell program leads to more responsible offshore development in the future."