Heroic Lawyers Do Battle

This is about an article on local Alaskan TV about legal problems for the Shell Oil drilling rigs. Environmental groups' lawyers say Oil Companies are not capable of safely drilling in the Arctic conditions. 

Shell Oil wants to drill for oil in a pristine Wildlife Reserve. A great number of birds from all over the world nest in the reserve. Many other creatures live in the wildlife reserve also.

Shell has been cited for safety and other violations for both their oil drilling rig and their oil spill boom ship. 

Both vessels have been plagued with mishaps since they began attempting to drill in the Arctic. The oil drilling rig even ran aground on an Alaskan island and had to be rescued by the Coast Guard. 

http://www.ktva.com/home/top-stories/Coast-Guard-Pursuing-Criminal-Investigation-Into-Alaskan-Drilling-Ship-185675981.html?strypg=2

Here is a quote from the internet article from CBS News:

"Sources tell CBS News that Coast Guard Investigations Service agents and EPA investigators have been meeting with federal prosecutors in Anchorage. Electronic information downloaded from the Noble Discoverer's on-board computers is being reviewed by Coast Guard experts in Washington."

Here is another quote from the same source about the violations discovered by inspectors. You will notice there were 23 of them after other problems like an illegal oil discharge were dealt with:

On May 21, in Seattle, days before the ship sailed toward the Arctic Ocean, an inspection of the Discoverer found 23 deficiencies, including problems with bilge water management system, ventilation, electric system, and ship's engine.

As if it isn't bad enough that this drilling risks starting WWIII, but they can't even run their vessels safely before they even get into the difficult and dangerous conditions in the Arctic. 

I have never been so relieved to see savage lawyers on the attack, as the ones for the environmental groups that are fighting this battle.