Arctic waters also provide habitat for threatened polar bears, walruses and bowhead whales and are the home of Inupiat villages. The aftermath of Shell drilling in 2012 gave critics another Alaska drilling problem to highlight. A Shell drilling barge, the Kulluk, broke loose from its towing vessel and ran aground near Kodiak Island. Citing the disappointing results, and challenging and unpredictable federal regulatory environment, the company abandoned drilling in U.S. Arctic waters. The Trump administration could loosen Arctic drilling operating rules but bidders would still face environmental opposition.

Source: National Post January 05, 2018 22:30 UTC