The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has opened up the 30-day public comment period for Shell’s Chukchi Sea Exploration Plan.  

The document details a proposal to drill up to six wells in the Chukchi, starting in July of 2012.

The opening of the public comment period comes just days after Alaska Senator Mark Begich sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar asking the BOEM to release a review schedule for the Plan.

In the letter, Begich said the agency needs to quickly address the remaining regulatory milestones so that Shell can make plans for the upcoming drilling season.

The BOEM approved Shell’s Exploration Plan for the Beaufort Sea in August.  There are still several stages of review before the Chukchi Plan could be approved, including an environmental impact assessment.

Earlier this year the Environmental Protection Agency issued final air permits for Shell’s two Arctic drilling rigs and their support fleets.  Environmental and Native groups have challenged both of those permits.

If approved to drill in the Chukchi in 2012, Shell would be using the mobile drill rig Kulluk for exploration.