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E-Mail | Print | Save | Post | Get Photos | Get Reprints | Reuse Options Jul 21, 6:50 PM EDT Judge halts development on Chukchi Sea leases By DAN JOLING Associated Press Writer ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A federal judge says the federal government failed to follow environmental law before it sold billions in petroleum leases in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska's northwest coast. The lease sale in February 2008 garnered nearly $2.7 billion for the federal government from the sale of 2.76 million acres in Arctic Ocean waters, including $2.1 billion in high bids submitted by Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Beistline (BISTE'-line) ruled Wednesday that the Minerals Management Service failed to analyze the environmental effect of natural gas development despite industry interest. The agency analyzed only the development of the first field of 1 billion barrels of oil. Beistline enjoined all activity under the lease sale pending further review. © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Click here for copyright permissions! Copyright 2008 Associated Press

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