WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - Royal Dutch Shell's quest toreturn to oil drilling in the U.S. Arctic for the first timesince 2012 took a big step forward on Monday when the Obamaadministration approved the company's exploration plan.
The Department of Interior approved the plan in a move thathad been expected. Now Shell must only get several permits fromthe federal government and the state of Alaska in order to begindrilling this summer. Shell has not drilled in the Arctic sinceits mishap-filled 2012 season, when the company was forced toevacuate the Kulluk drill rig, which eventually grounded. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Bill Trott)
