"Justice Department Is Investigating Shell's Arctic Drilling"

"The Coast Guard has asked the Justice Department to investigate possible pollution violations by both the drilling rigs Shell used in its botched efforts to explore for oil last year in the Arctic Ocean waters off the northern coast of Alaska."

"Coast Guard Rear Adm. Thomas Ostebo said Wednesday that he'd turned over to the Justice Department for review and possible prosecution an investigation into the troubled Shell drilling rig Kulluk. Ostebo said it was an "investigation into potential Marpol violations."

Marpol is short for marine pollution, and it's a name used to refer to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution From Ships."

Sean Cockerham reports for McClatchy Newspapers March 27, 2013.