In which Obama's Offshore Oil Policy is Praised. Really.

[ProSense]

In which Obama's Offshore Oil Policy is Praised. Really. by RLMiller

<...>

Last Thursday, Obama announced a six month moratorium and new regulations on deepwater drilling. The details are pretty good:

-- flat out canceling the "220" leases off Virginia's coast;
-- delaying until 2011 Shell's proposed exploratory leases in Alaska's Beaufort and Chukchi seas;
-- shutting down 33 wells currently being drilled in deepwater "at the first safe stopping point";
-- aggressive safety actions, including a recertification of all Blowout Preventers (BOPs) for floating drilling operations; stronger well control practices, blowout prevention and intervention procedures; tougher inspections for deepwater drilling operations; and expanded safety and training programs for rig workers;
-- and, according to the blog Rigzone,
redefining deepwater from 1,000 feet to 500 feet and barring sidetrack or bypass wells. That last point may be critical.

Shortly after the April 30 moratorium was announced, observant eyes spotted a "Western Lease Sale 215" information page at the MMS website providing details for an August 2010 lease in the Western Gulf of Mexico. Now, that website links to the May 27 moratorium.

Wednesday night, MMS head Abbey announced more rules: "operators will be required to submit additional information about potential risks and safety considerations before being allowed to drill. The rule applies even to those plans that have already been approved or received a waiver exempting them from detailed environmental scrutiny."

One shallow-water permit was approved yesterday. However, the Republicans who usually stand with Big Oil are furious: Gov. Bobby Jindal is gravely concerned for deepwater jobs, David Vitter is whining for inspections instead of a moratorium, and Smokey Joe Barton is enabling industry's gripes. Another term for alienating Jindal and his cronies: good work.

The new policy will be tested soon, when BP plans an Arctic slant drilling operation. BP has not yet applied for permits.

What's left? Existing shallow water wells in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska will continue to pump. Permits for shallow water will be given, but they'll be scrutinized. And in a little-noticed move, onshore drilling rules are also being reformed.

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[ProSense]

3. Do you thrive on being irrational? n/t

[Cha]

2. Good info! Thanks Pro Sense..Rec.

Bookmarked.

[freddie mertz]

4. But, but, Miller posts his blog on (cue sounds of thunder and bolts of lightning!) FIREDOG LAKE!!!!

The GREAT SATAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The MOST EVIL WEBSITE IN THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE!

RLMiller
About Me
My blog devoted to land and things thereon: national parks, public lands, outdoor adventures, environment, climate, and politics of same. Also, backyard chickens. I also post at DailyKos and Firedoglake. In my spare time I practice law and raise children.

STONE HIM!

BURN THE WITCH!!!!

:evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilfrown: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :evilgrin: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

[karynnj]

13. I think you will find that he is a she and that Daily Kos is the place where

she typically posts.It is brave of her to cross post in the very hostile Firedoglake, if she does.

Her environmental posts on Daily Kos are consistently excellent.

[freddie mertz]

19. Also posts on Firedoglake. nt.

[tledford]

30. Umm, thunder is the sound that bolts of lightning make. eom

[Moochy]

5. Two Oil Baron Thumbs Up!

[neverforget]

6. !

:rofl:

[freddie mertz]

7. This picture had me splitting a gut.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke: :nuke:

Thanks!

[Moochy]

10. He's so cute and oligarchy-y

[freddie mertz]

11. LOL!!! And the hat!!!!!

:rofl: :nuke:

[ProSense]

8. Salazar is an oil baron?

Interesting.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[amborin]

14. K&U Salazar is a documented pro-corporate, anti-environment pol

[ProSense]

21. Nonsense.

Offshore Drilling in Virginia

ANWR Amendment

[Cha]

15. The details are good, thanks, PS.

[SunsetDreams]

16. K&R, Dang what did you do Prosense? So many Unrecs

I find it hard to believe that anyone could unrec this?

Really?

:eyes:


Excellent post Prosense, some points I was not even aware of, thank you!

[ProSense]

20. Fans

What can I say?

:rofl:

[politicasista]

25. Lots of "deleted messages" too

Interesting...

[Whisp]

28. hahah, those are the best threads.

the heads they exploded all over the place and the mods had to mop up.

:rofl:

they were half empty anyways, not too much of a mess

[Jennicut]

17. Thanks for the info.

And what is with a million deleted posts here? It is just info on the new rules. Sheesh.

[freddie mertz]

18. What "new rules" are those?

The behavior seems pretty much the same.

And the forum rules are preceded by tHIS statement:

Last updated November 7, 2005.

The enforcement section says:

Last updated February 1, 2006.

[Jennicut]

23. Talking about the new rules for offshore drilling, not the forum.

Sorry.

[freddie mertz]

26. OH! OK. Those are harder to keep track of, though...

The story kept changing last week.

[Whisp]

29. hhaahhaha! got a live one!

[Cha]

22. Keeping it kicked..for keeping

real.

[goclark]

24. K again

[Whisp]

27. not bad for a lazy do nothing corporate shill.

sounds pretty good to me!