Alva Review-Courier -

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Petroleum exploration has largely ceased in federal waters off Alaska but an Italian multinational oil and gas company has received permission to move ahead with modest drilling plans on leases sold in 2005.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management late Wednesday announced conditional approval of an exploratory drilling plan submitted by Eni US Operating Co. Inc., part of Eni S.p.A.

The company plans to drill four exploration wells from the Spy Island drill site, an 11-acre (.04-square kilometer) artificial gravel island constructed in state of Alaska waters 6 to...