Obama: "Going forward", new oil leases will need safeguards

[Bluebear]

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama on Friday directed that no new offshore oil drilling leases be issued unless rigs have new safeguards to prevent a repeat of the explosion that unleashed the massive spill threatening the Gulf Coast with major environmental damage.

Obama ordered Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to report within 30 days on what new technologies are needed to tighten safeguards against oil spills from deep water drilling rigs.

"We are going to make sure that any leases going forward have those safeguards," said Obama at a White House Rose Garden event.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100430/ap_on_bi_ge/us_oil_rig_explosion_obama

[Myrina]

1. How about "Going forward, there will be no offshore oil leases"?

That's about the only safeguard that will work.

[joeybee12]

2. Dang, I can't rec your post!

Agree completely.

[Bluebear]

3. This must be the big "rethinking" that occurred re: expansion of drilling

We are going to expand the areas of drilling, but this time we will make really, really, really sure it's safe.

[earth mom]

4. Disgusting! Another War is Peace type moment from Obama.

:puke:

[Bluebear]

5. Stop! At least he "rethought" it!

:silly:

[earth mom]

6. Yeah, he rethought it long enough until he got the call from big oil. nt

[Bluebear]

10. How much more

is our planet supposed to take :(

[Peregrine Took]

7. The old "triangulator" strikes yet again!!!!

"First you say you WILL and then you WON'T, then you say you DO and then you DON'T...so WHAT are you goin' to DO????

[Bluebear]

12. PS

I have had that earworm for an hour now, thanks lol

[WeDidIt]

8. How about redundant independent remote shut off valves for every well head

and before you can get a lease, you have to retrofit all platforms currently in operation.

A million bucks per off shore drilling rig well spent.

[Obamanaut]

9. Is this sorta like he was against the drilling before he was for it, and

now he's leaning toward against again but only if they're not really careful?

[freddie mertz]

11. More triangulating balderdash.

Heaven help us.

[sabrina 1]

13. 11 people died. The devastation to the environment

is incalculable at this point, and how it will affect the health of many more people. This was a chance to simply say 'I was wrong' and look to the future, as he so often tells us to do. He could have used this tragedy to call for an escalation of the development of alternative energy sources.

This doesn't bode well for what he will do regarding holding the Coal Industry specifically Massey Energy and Don Blankenship accountable for the deaths of the 29 coal miners either.

I imagine the same strategy will apply. They CAN continue to operate their mines, just so long as they 'do better at making sure that safety measures are not disregarded anymore.'

It's the same strategy of giving billions of dollars to the same guys who caused the collapse of the economy, so long as 'this time they behave themselves better'.

Nothing will change, those deaths will barely be remembered in a few weeks. Life is expendable but profits are not. I don't know when the American people will rise up against the abuse they take from their government no matter which party is in power.

[Bluebear]

14. But they are really, really, really going to be safe going forward.

:silly:

[sabrina 1]

16. I did just see that there may be some criminal investigation

into whether or not bribes were used and Massey Energy may be involved. So that's something, but I will wait until it actually happens.

You are right though, promises and a few new regulations that can be ignored or manipulated, is usually what happens.

[LiberalAndProud]

15. No. fuck no.

The things about industrial disasters, is that they could have been mitigated in hindsight. Lot of good that does, in hindsight.\

on edit:

Even if dangers are known to the industry, if the lawmakers arene't made aware of it and subsequently pass regulation, captains of industry won't do one single thing to prevent the danger from coming to fruition.


NO NO NO

[chill_wind]

17. Wait. What??

K & R.

[gulliver]

18. It's a good start. Way better than...

..."Obama announces ban on offshore oil rigs. Existing rigs to be dismantled."

Because that would be followed in seven months by "GOP Recaptures Congress. Offshore oil rigs legal once again. Safety measures to be dismantled."

[chill_wind]

19. Does he have to announce anything of this "rethink" this immediately?

".. in a largely symbolic gesture, promised that no new offshore oil drilling leases will be issued unless rigs have new safeguards to prevent a repeat of the explosion that unleashed the massive spill threatening the Gulf Coast.

The assurance had no immediate impact because no new leases are scheduled for the coming months."

[Lone_Star_Dem]

21. Why anyone is not happy that they're finally going to tighten regulations on offshore drilling

is beyond me.

As to why they'd mention it now. It could have something to do with that big-greasy-spreading-blob-of-destruction in the gulf. Maybe?

[chill_wind]

22. Please don't put words in my mouth.

Nowhere was that my suggestion that anyone should be unhappy about "tightening regulation."
He has a 30 day study underway. There are no new leases in the meantime.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

23. As to why they'd mention it now...

It could have something to do with that big-greasy-spreading-blob-of-destruction in the gulf. Maybe?

My other comment was on all the bellyaching in this thread over something positive.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

20. They hand out new leases every year. Now they'll require new safeguards on those leases

Did anyone here honestly think they'd stop all offshore drilling? Really?