U.S. begins pursuing drilling off Virginia coast

[babylonsister]

U.S. begins pursuing drilling off Virginia coast
By Barbara Barrett | McClatchy Newspapers



WASHINGTON — Months after President George W. Bush and Congress lifted bans on offshore drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, the federal government moved Thursday to pursue oil and natural gas exploration off the coast of Virginia.

The Interior Department began a public comment period on drafting an environmental-impact statement on offshore drilling. The environmental work is the first step in opening 2.9 million acres of waters to a lease sale scheduled for 2011. The area under consideration is at least 50 miles offshore.

The agency's move probably will be followed closely by environmental groups and states in the Southeast, along with business groups that are eager for more energy development.

"In some ways, North Carolina is the next place after Virginia that . . . the federal government would like to go," said Michael Gravitz, an oceans advocate for Environment America, a coalition of state organizations. "Virginia is the first chink in the Atlantic Coast armor."

The issue of offshore drilling dominated national and state political conversation through much of the past election season as energy costs skyrocketed and the economy worsened. Partisans chanted "Drill, baby, drill!" at Republican political rallies, while many Democrats parsed their words to sound open to some offshore drilling while promoting alternative energy.

Thursday's move was the first concrete action in Washington since Bush and Congress lifted years-old bans on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.

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[RUMMYisFROSTED]

1. Pathetic.