An Alaska Native village is trying to stop Shell Oil from drilling in the Chukchi Sea.

Village residents say development will threaten subsistence whaling and harm the environment. They are worried that a spill similar to the Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico could turn catastrophic due to the remote location of the site.

"They're not ready for the Arctic," whale hunter George Kingik told the Associated Press.

The village, the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and environmental groups sued the Minerals Management Service in hopes of stopping development. But the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals last week rejected their attempt to block MMS from approving Shell's development plans.

Shell still needs final approval of its plans before it can begin development.

Get the Story:
Drilling critics warn of dangers from a spill in the Arctic (AP 5/17)

9th Circuit Decision:
Native Village of Point Hope v. Salazar (May 13, 2010)

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