Reply #12: more 7/09

[Hannah Bell]

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration is moving ahead with an oil lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico next month despite legal questions about whether the proposal and other offshore drilling plans initially drawn up under President George W. Bush went through a full environmental review.

The decision comes four months after the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington blocked lease sales in Alaska, saying the Bush administration didn't properly study the environmental consequences. The Alaska drilling was part of a five-year plan to expand drilling around the country, including in the Gulf. The court didn't say whether its ruling also applied to Gulf drilling, but many experts watching the case said they believed the decision could cover the entire program, not just the Alaska portion.

Interior spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said the agency has sought clarification from the courts. But after not getting further guidance, Secretary Ken Salazar decided to move ahead, Barkoff said.

http://blog.al.com/press-register-business/2009/07/interior_plans_offshore_drilli.html


U.S. court approves Gulf of Mexico oil drilling plan
By USE PAC Admin on July 30, 2009 1:01 PM | 0 Comments
Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:30pm EDT

By Tom Doggett
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a big win for oil companies, a federal appeals court said it will allow the U.S. Interior Department to move forward with oil and natural gas leasing plans for the Gulf of Mexico that were drawn up by the Bush administration.

The department in May sought clarification of a court decision that struck down the Bush administration's five-year (2007 to 2012) offshore oil and gas drilling plan based on the court's findings that a proper review had not been done on how the drilling would affect the environment.

The initial dispute focused on offshore drilling in Alaskan waters, but the department wanted to know whether leases in the Gulf of Mexico would also be affected.

In a ruling on Tuesday, the U.S. District Court in Washington said leasing plans for the Gulf could continue, as could drilling off Alaska, but the department would have to conduct a review of the environmental risks before approving significant energy development activities. If the department fails to carry out the risk analysis, the court said it may throw out the leasing plan.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he was pleased with the court's decision and will go forward with a Gulf of Mexico lease sale planned for August 19.


http://blackoilblog.com/2009/07/us-court-approves-gulf-of-mexico-oil-drilling-plan.html