Interior Department Rolls Out First Rules For Arctic Drilling

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/20/interior-arctic-drilling-rules_n_6723974.html

Environmental groups have long raised concerns about drilling in the Arctic, where conditions are icy, dark and stormy much of the year. Access to materials needed to contain and clean up a spill is challenging in the region, which doesn't have the vast energy infrastructure of the Gulf of Mexico.

"Prior to this, they were using regulations that were for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico," Marilyn Heiman, director of Pew’s U.S. Arctic Project, told The Huffington Post. "This is a big step to drilling safety and spill prevention in the Arctic. I think this is a pretty good start, since this has never been in pace before. It is a drastic improvement."