UPDATE 1-U.S. approval moves Shell a step closer to Arctic drilling
March 31, 2015 at 15:40 PM EDT
WASHINGTON, March 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. Interior Department on Tuesday upheld a 2008 lease sale in the Chukchi Sea off Alaska, moving Royal Dutch Shell a step closer to returning to oil and gas exploration in the Arctic since it suffered mishaps in the region in 2012.