ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Environmental groups are celebrating a decision by Shell Oil to end Arctic offshore petroleum exploration in U.S. waters and would like to see a permanent ban.
Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Monday it would end exploration off northern Alaska "for the foreseeable future."
In an exploratory well this summer, Shell found oil but not in quantities that could justify continued commercial production.
Environmental groups fear a major spill could not be cleaned up and would be devastating to polar bears, walrus and other marine mammals.
Greenpeace spokeswoman Cassady Sharp says protests over the summer probably played a role in Shell's decision.
Miyoko Sakashita of the Center for Biological Diversity says any Arctic Ocean drilling is wrong if the country wants to address climate change.
