Coast Guard refers the Kulluk to DOJ

The U.S. Coast Guard has referred alleged environmental violations during Alaska operations in 2012 by the Kulluk, Shell’s Arctic floating drilling platform, to the Department of Justice for investigation, Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard 17th District, told Sen. Mark Begich during a field hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 27. The Kulluk is owned by Shell and operated by Noble Corp.

The Coast Guard had referred similar allegations regarding the drill ship Noble Discoverer to the Department of Justice in February. The Noble Discoverer, owned and operated by Noble Corp., had been conducting drilling operations for Shell in the Chukchi Sea in 2012. The Kulluk was operating in the Beaufort Sea.

The Coast Guard is also still investigating the facts and circumstances surrounding the Dec. 31 grounding of the Kulluk while under tow from Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands to the U.S. West Coast, Ostebo said.

In addition to the Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement are involved in the investigation, he said.

“The Coast Guard certainly shares concerns regarding the recent grounding of the … Kulluk, an event which highlights the rigors of operating in Alaskan waters,” Ostebo said.

Ostebo said that it would be inappropriate to provide additional information while the various investigations are in progress.

“However, as soon as the (grounding) investigation is complete and the final reports are issued, senator, I will ensure that you get a copy of them and your staff does as well,” Ostebo told Begich.

—Alan Bailey