Royal Dutch Shell has gained permission from the US Government to drill for oil and gas in the Beaufort Sea off the coast of Alaska. This was announced by the Department of Internal Affairs on Monday, 19 November, 2009. This is an answer to Shell’s request to be able to drill at two offshore concessions that the company bought in 2005 and 2007 in two separate purchases. Shell will carry out two test drillings between July and October 2010. The company will eventually stop the drillings before 25 August so as not to disturb the whale hunt of the local people.