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Alaskan Congressman Don Young released the following statement today on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) decision to issue conditional approval for Shell’s revised Exploration Plan which calls for drilling up to four shallow exploration wells in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea:

“Today’s decision by BOEMRE is an important development for Alaska. I have always said that with less oil flowing through the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and North Slope production declining, it’s crucial to Alaska’s economic future that we start developing new areas in Alaska. Shell has invested billions of dollars and worked very hard with both state and federal officials in developing a plan to drill offshore in Alaska. While today’s decision by BOEMRE is a welcome one, I remain cautiously optimistic that the Obama Administration will issue the necessary permits and authorizations needed in order for Shell to start drilling on time a year from now.”