Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/512454
ByPhuongLe The Associated Press SEATTLE The arrival in Seattle Thursday of an oil rig Royal Dutch Shell is outfitting for oil explora- tion in the remote Arctic Ocean marks a pivotal mo- ment for an environmen- tal movement increasingly mobilized around climate change. Activists paddling out in kayaks to meet the rig off Seattle's picturesque water- front said it's their moment to stand against opening a new frontier of fossil fuel exploration. "Unless people get out there and put themselves on the front lines and say enough is enough, than nothing will ever change," said Jordan Van Voast, 55, an acupuncturist who was going out on the water to confront the Polar Pioneer. "I'm hopeful that people are waking up." A few people in tiny plastic boats, dwarfed by a 400-foot-long struc- ture rising nearly 300 feet above the water. The image suggests how outmatched Shell's opponents have been as they try to keep the pe- troleum giant from con- tinuing its $6 billion effort to open new oil and gas re- serves in one of the world's most dangerous maritime environments. Activismmounts But environmental groups in the Pacific North- west are sensing a shift in the politics that surround energy production, and have mobilized against a se- ries of projects that would transform the region into a gateway for crude oil and coal exports to Asia. "These proposals have woken a sleeping giant in the Northwest," said Eric de Place, policy director for Sightline Institute, a liberal Seattle think tank. "It has unleashed this very robust opposition movement." Shell still needs other permits from state and fed- eral agencies, including one to actually drill offshore in the Arctic and another to dispose of wastewater. But it's moving ahead mean- while, using the Port of Se- attle to load drilling rigs and a fleet of support ves- sels with supplies and per- sonnel before spending the brief Arctic summer in the Chukchi Sea, which stretches north from the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia. Hurricane-force winds and 50-foot seas can quickly threaten even the sturdiest ships in the seas off Alaska. But Shell cleared a major bureau- cratic hurdle Monday when the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Manage- ment, after taking public comments and reviewing voluminous reports, ap- proved the multi-year ex- ploration plan. If exploratory drilling goes well, Shell plans to in- vest billions more in infra- structure to open this new frontier, building pipe- lines under the ocean and onto the tundra of Alaska's North Slope, along with roads, air strips and other facilities. Kulluk mishap Shell's last effort to do exploratory drilling in the Arctic Ocean also left from Seattle, and ended badly. The Noble Discoverer and the Kulluk — a rig Shell had spent hundreds of mil- lions of dollars to custom- ize— were stranded by equipment failures in terri- ble weather, and the Coast Guard barely rescued the Kulluk's crew. Federal in- vestigations resulted in guilty pleas and fines for rig owner Noble Drilling. The Kulluk ended up on a scrap heap in China. Shell is leasing the Polar Pioneer in its stead, again backed by the Noble Discoverer. But Shell says it gained has vital experience, and can safely drill on its leases in the Chukchi Sea, as well as the Beaufort Sea, an even more remote stretch north of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge where it also has leases. Shell spokesman Cur- tis Smith called Monday's approval "is an important milestone and signals the confidence regulators have in our plan." Officials in Alaska have welcomed the drilling, even flying to Seattle this week to lobby for Shell's plan. Labor groups representing port workers noted that Foss Maritime is employ- ing more than 400 people already to service the Shell fleet. Washington Gov. Jay In- slee has proposed tough pollution limits on state industries and raised con- cerns about oil trains us- ing the state's rails. Seat- tle Mayor Ed Murray, for his part, is strongly against hosting Shell's fleet, warn- ing that the port could face daily fines because it lacks the proper permit. Those fines would amount to no more than $500 a day for the port — a tiny drop in a very large barrel if Shell, one of the world's largest companies, manages to recover bil- lions of gallons of oil from the Arctic Ocean. OIL PRODUCTION Seattle, like it or not, becomes Shell's Arctic base ELAINETHOMPSON—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS The oil drilling rig Polar Pioneer is towed toward a dock on Thursday in Elliott Bay in Seattle. By David Espo The Associated Press WASHINGTON In a burst of bipartisanship, the Re- publican-controlled Sen- ate put President Barack Obama's trade agenda back on course Thursday, clearing the way for likely approval within days of legislation allowing the administration to negoti- ate global deals that Con- gress could support or re- ject but not change. The 65-33 vote to resur- rect the measure capped two days of political in- trigue in which Demo- crats on both sides of the legislation initially joined forces to block action, then reached agreement with Republicans for votes on other enforcement mea- sures to protect workers who lose jobs as a result of exports. The White House swiftly hailed the vote, say- ing the bill's passage would lead to "high-standard trade agreements that are good for the U.S. econ- omy, businesses, farm- ers, innovators and work- ers, and would extend and enhance" aid for workers harmed by trade. Hours earlier, the White House registered its objec- tions to a provision in a companion measure that cleared the Senate during the day on a 78-20 vote. It would require the imposi- tion of tariffs on products from countries that artifi- cially set the level of their currency, a practice that makes it harder for U.S. firms to compete and re- sults in the loss of jobs in this country. The provision would undermine existing ef- forts to respond to China and other alleged violators and "lead to other coun- tries pursuing retaliatory measures that could hurt our exporters," the White House said. Even so, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a prominent sponsor of the proposal, predicted it might eventually prove essential in persuading enough skeptical House Democrats to swing be- hind the trade bill itself to assure final passage. The day's events only underscored the unusual alignment of political forces at work on the legis- lation to provide so-called "fast-track" authority to Obama at a time when the administration is seeking to negotiate separate trade deals with 12 nations that border the Pacific Ocean, as well as with European Union countries. An initial attempt Tues- day to begin debate on the trade bill was foiled by Democrats, who com- plained that Senate Re- publicans would not agree in advance to allow votes on the currency manipu- lation and other related measures at the same time. "President Obama has done his country a ser- vice by taking on his (po- litical) base and pushing back on some of the more ridiculous rhetoric we've heard," Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., he said a few hours before the day's votes. Not everyone sounded as pleased. Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent running for the Demo- cratic presidential nomi- nation, said the legislation would lead to a trade deal like others in recent years that have "cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and have led us to a race to the bottom, where Amer- ican workers are forced to compete against work- ers in low-wage countries who are making pennies an hour." The 65-33 vote to begin formal debate on the bill was five more than the 60 needed. A total of 52 Re- publicans and 13 Demo- crats voted in favor. GLOBAL DEALS Senate puts federal trade bill back on track Springishere,and so are the deals! CORNING CHEVY SpringSavings Allpricesplusgovernmentfeesandtaxes,anyfinancecharge,anydealerdocument,preparationchargeandanyemissioncharge.SubjecttoPriorsales&creditapproval.Rebatessubjecttochange.Somevehicleimagesinthisadareforillustration purposes only and may vary from actual vehicle. *On Select Units, see dealer for details. See dealer for complete warranty deals. **Must own 1999 or newer GM truck. ***Must trade 1999 or newer vehicle. Ad expires 5/17/15. 2087 Solano Street • CORNING 1-800-649-7253 or 530-824-5171 SALES:MON-FRI:8AM-7PM SAT: 9AM-6PM • SUN: 10AM-5PM SERVICE: MON-FRI: 7:30AM-5:30PM SeHablaEspañolpreguntaporOmarGutierrez Redding Corning Exit Willows CORNING CHEVY-BUICK CORNING FORD 1 Block 1-5 Solano St. Short Drive N FarmBureauAgriculturalMember $ 500 00 Additional Rebate CORNING DEAL IN CORNING AND SAVE! CHEVY CORVETTECARSHOW May30th10:00-2:00 Chico Corvette Club | Redding Corvette Club Al Al All Co Co Co Co Corv rv rvet et et ette te te Wel el elco co co co come me me me • Call Bryon Stev even ens forInfo530-824-5171 MSRP.................................. $26,670 CORNING DISC....................-$1,692 SALE PRICE........................ $24,978 REBATE................................-$4,001 STOCK #1864 • VIN #EZ349207 $ 20,977 2014 Chevy 1500 WT SAVE $ 5,693 MSRP.................................. $23,785 CORNING DISC.......................-$351 SALE PRICE........................ $23,434 REBATE................................-$3,568 STOCK #2012 • VIN #FF287187 $ 19,886 2015 Chevy Malibu SAVE $ 3,919 MSRP.................................. $30,145 CORNING DISC....................-$1,278 SALE PRICE........................ $28,867 REBATE................................-$4,522 STOCK #1644 • VIN #E9183455 $ 23,944 2014 Chevy Impala SAVE $ 3,778 MSRP.................................. $27,410 CORNING DISC....................-$1,239 SALE PRICE........................ $26,171 REBATE................................-$2,500 TRADE IN ASST** ...............-$2,000 DOWN PAYMENT ASSIST*..-$1,000 FORM BUREAU.......................-$500 STOCK #1744 • VIN #EZ257673 $ 20,171 2014 Chevy 1500 Reg Cab WT SAVE $ 7,239 MSRP.................................. $58,860 CORNING DISC....................-$2,077 SALE PRICE........................ $56,783 REBATE................................-$2,000 DOWN PAYMENT ASSIST*..-$1,000 STOCK #2024 • VIN #FF589791 $ 53,783 2015 Chevy 2500 HD Crew 4X4 Duramax LT SAVE $ 5,077 MSRP.................................. $19,865 CORNING DISC....................-$5W86 SALE PRICE........................ $19,279 REBATE................................-$2,980 STOCK #1914 • VIN #F7107473 $ 16,299 2015 Chevy Cruze SAVE $ 3,566 **Musttrade1999ornewer NEW NEW 12 CADILLAC CTS STOCK #C6670 VIN #C0127007 FACTORY WARRANTY, LOW MILES, LOADED, LEASE RETURN $ 27,739 14 CHEVY CRUZE LT STOCK #C6671 VIN #E7112720 FACTORY WARRANTY, PRIOR RENTAL $ 15,817 11 CHEVY 1500 CREW 4X4 Z71 STOCK #C6659 VIN #BG408534 WINCH - WE SOLD NEW $ 32,838 14 CHEVY 3500 DURAMAX CREW 4X4 LWB STOCK #C6692 VIN #EF158867 $ 43,965 MAX MAX MAX MAX 14 BUICK ENCLAVE WHITE DIAMOND STOCK #C6653 VIN #EJ318762 FACTORY WARRANTY, PRIOR RENTAL, LEATHER, LOADED, 22,000 MILES $ 35,977 14 CHEVY CAMARO V-6 STOCK #C6701 VIN #E9284459 FACTORY WARRANTY, LOW MILES, LOCAL TRADE $ 22,977 BENNY BROWNS BENNY BROWNS CORNING CORNING CHEVY LT, FACTORY WARRANTY, HARD TO FIND *Must finance with Ally, Wells Fargo or GMF NEW NEW NEW NEW Cometoour FREE CAR SEAT CHECK-UP Saturday, May 30th Corning Chevrolet 2087 Solano St. 10am-1pm FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2015 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM | NEWS | 9 A