WASHINGTON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - The Obama administration onMonday granted Royal Dutch Shell the final permit todrill for oil and gas in the Arctic, after the company repaireda ship essential to its exploration in the region this season.
The Interior Department gave Shell the final permit to drillinto the oil zone in the Chukchi Sea off northern Alaska afterthe Fennica, an icebreaker the company leases that carriesemergency well-plugging equipment, was sent to Oregon to repaira gash in its hull.
The permit was expected as the department had previouslyapproved Shell's exploration program before the Fennica hituncharted shoals in southern Alaska. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by Sandra Maler)
