And the Bush administration's decision on January 9th to lift a moratorium on oil drilling in nearby Bristol Bay, where Shell hopes to develop natural gas resources, could further increase Aleutian traffic.

ECONOMIST: Shipwrecks in the Aleutians

The Iraqi cabinet approved a preliminary agreement that will create a joint venture between the state-run South Oil Company and Royal Dutch Shell to develop natural-gas resources in the Basra region.

ECONOMIST: Business this week

With any luck the unsubstantiated claims by the environmental lobby will not keep us from utilizing our clean natural gas resources or develop a vibrant energy economy here at home.

FORBES: EPA's Fracking Hysteria