Groups seek to stop oil exploration off Alaska

BY JEANNETTE J. LEE Associated Press Writer

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Alaska Native and environmental groups are suing to stop exploration by oil companies this summer in Arctic waters frequented by whales and other marine species.

The groups are challenging federal permits that allow Shell Oil and BP to search for oil and gas in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, alleging that the technology the companies plan to use has been shown to harm a variety of marine animals. With what's known as seismic exploration, the companies plan to use sound waves to determine the characteristics of what's under the sea bottom.

The suit, filed on Monday in U.S. District Court in Alaska, names the Minerals Management Service and National Marine Fisheries Service among the defendants.

It is one of several ongoing suits filed in recent years to block oil companies from working in the waters off Alaska.