The Interior Department decided not to give final approval for Shell Oil's planned exploratory drilling in the Arctic this summer. KTUU-TV reports that Salazar told a Friday news conference in Anchorage that the Gulf oil spill raised questions about the effectiveness of blowout preventers and spill response plans.
Salazar says he will not allow the drilling until he's confident it poses no threat. He says he's waiting for several Interior Department reports to be completed before making his decision.
Shell Oil says it had a good meeting with Salazar during his visit, and that the company has done everything asked of it by the department.
Watch dogs need to bark and bite, if they are going to watch the hen house.