Since spill, feds have given 27 waivers to oil companies in gulf

[one...two...tree 2,762]

By Marisa Taylor | McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON — Since the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded on April 20, the Obama administration has granted oil and gas companies at least 27 exemptions from doing in-depth environmental studies of oil exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico.

The waivers were granted despite President Barack Obama's vow that his administration would launch a "relentless response effort" to stop the leak and prevent more damage to the gulf. One of them was dated Friday — the day after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he was temporarily halting offshore drilling

The exemptions, known as "categorical exclusions," were granted by the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) and included waiving detailed environmental studies for a BP exploration plan to be conducted at a depth of more than 4,000 feet and an Anadarko Petroleum Corp. exploration plan at more 9,000 feet.

"Is there a moratorium on off shore drilling or not?" asked Peter Galvin, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity, the environmental group that discovered the administration's continued approval of the exemptions. "Possibly the worst environmental disaster in U.S. history has occurred and nothing appears to have changed."

MMS officials said the exemptions are continuing to be issued because they do not represent final drilling approval.

To drill, a company has to file a separate application under a process that is now suspended because of Salazar's order Thursday.

However, officials could not say whether the exemptions would stand once the moratorium is lifted.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchy...l#ixzz0nMzPIchk

Edited May 8, 2010 by El Buscador

[john & jean 37]

Obama who??

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

and steven voted for him.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

and steven voted for him.

He's turning out to be quite a corporatist.

[peejay 327]

He's turning out to be quite a corporatist.

Obama doesn't know the difference between his own azz and an oilwell. That is why the Minerals Management Service is run by professional technocrats that do know the oil business. The Federal government doesn't make any money when leases don't get sold and oil/natural gas wells don't get drilled and don't start producing royalty revenue for the Federal and state governments.

Solutions will be found and implemented to allow future safe drilling and production offshore. Offshore petroleum production will continue. It provides too much revenue and too many jobs to abandon any offshore developement due to one accident in thousands of wells drilled.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

He's turning out to be quite a corporatist.

At least he'll give all the illegals amnesty. And maybe they can all get jobs working for an oil company.

[Ban Hammer 13,369]

At least he'll give all the illegals amnesty. And maybe they can all get jobs working for an oil company.

wait, then it would be illegals for oil, and that has to be bush's fault!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

He's turning out to be quite a corporatist.

turning out?

Where have you been?

Oh let me guess, you were one of those people who didn't research him before voting for him?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Obama doesn't know the difference between his own azz and an oilwell. That is why the Minerals Management Service is run by professional technocrats that do know the oil business. The Federal government doesn't make any money when leases don't get sold and oil/natural gas wells don't get drilled and don't start producing royalty revenue for the Federal and state governments.

Solutions will be found and implemented to allow future safe drilling and production offshore. Offshore petroleum production will continue. It provides too much revenue and too many jobs to abandon any offshore developement due to one accident in thousands of wells drilled.

Wasn't the MMS caught in a scandal where the oil companies were providing them bribes including sex?

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Wasn't the MMS caught in a scandal where the oil companies were providing them bribes including sex?

It's ok to accept bribes involving sex.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

It's ok to accept bribes involving sex.

Sex and drugs....oh yeah.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

I'd listen to her bribe.