Wrangell Sentinel -

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Ten environmental groups say a missing icebreaker should be a deal-breaker for Arctic offshore drilling by Royal Dutch Shell PLC off Alaska’s northwest coast.

The groups in a letter Tuesday called on Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to reject permits sought by Shell to drill in the Chukchi Sea because of the absence of the 380-foot icebreaker Fennica while it undergoes repairs.

The icebreaker is a key part of Shell’s exploration plan and spill response plan, said attorney Mike LeVine of Oceana.

“The Fennica plays an important role in protecting the entirety o...