Hillary Clinton: Arctic drilling 'not worth the risk'

U.S. Democratic presidential candidateHillary Clinton on Tuesday staked out her opposition to Arcticoil exploration, a day after the Obama administration gave RoyalDutch Shell final approval to drill off Alaska.

"The Arctic is a unique treasure," Clinton said in a Twitterpost. "Given what we know, it's not worth the risk of drilling."

On Monday, the Obama administration gave Shell finalapproval to resume drilling into the oil zone off northernAlaska for the first time since 2012.

Shell obtained the leases during the administration offormer President George W. Bush.

Arctic drilling is sure to be a contentious issue in thepresidential campaign as more Arctic lease sales are scheduled for 2016 and 2017.

Environmentalists oppose the drilling, saying any spillwould harm walruses, whales, and polar bears in a regionscientists say is already vulnerable to climate change.

The Arctic contains 20 percent of the world's undiscoveredoil and gas, the U.S. government estimates, making it a covetedresource.

Shell suffered a series of mishaps in 2012 in the Arctic,including losing control of an oil rig from which Coast Guarddivers dropped from helicopters had to rescue 18 crew members.But the company says Arctic oil, which would not be produced forat least a decade, is needed to meet growing global demand.

On other energy issues, Clinton has sought to balanceenvironmental and economic concerns. Previously she said shewould seek to phase out fossil fuel extraction and increase feeson companies operating on public lands in a way that does notdisrupt the economy, if she becomes president.

Clinton has been careful not to comment on whether she wouldapprove the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada ahead of anexpected ruling by President Barack Obama.