Environmental group to sue US over oil permits

[cal04]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N14220004.htm

(Reuters) - U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar improperly approved offshore oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico without regard to possible harm to marine mammals, an environmental group said Friday in a legal notice.

The Center for Biological Diversity said it plans to sue Salazar and the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) for failing to get environmental permits required by two environmental laws -- the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.

The group said the Interior Department has approved three lease sales, more than 100 seismic surveys and more than 300 drilling operations since Salazar took office in 2009 without the required environmental permits meant to protect endangered whales and other marine mammals.

"The Department of the Interior and the Minerals Management Service are creating a lawless zone in the Gulf of Mexico when it comes to these environmental laws," Miyoko Sakashita, the center's oceans director, said by telephone. "The oil companies really get to call the shots."


http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/05/14-1

[tekisui]

1. knr.

[xiamiam]

2. how long before nations follow? i was thinking about this today

how much can you fuck up before somebody stops you from totally screwing up the planet..and since it appears we are not doing much, i expect nations to do something to force us..if that is possible..who knows?..i never thought i would see this day when the consequences are real and not imagined yet haven't begun to have their full impact..this is going to unfold in a very ugly way

[Luminous Animal]

3. Good.

[polichick]

4. Guess I'm not the only one who thinks Salazar is too cozy with big oil...

If this doesn't wake the prez up about appointing industry hacks, I don't know what will.

[ProSense]

5. Let's see...

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar improperly approved offshore oil operations in the Gulf of Mexico without regard to possible harm to marine mammals, an environmental group said Friday in a legal notice.

The Center for Biological Diversity said it plans to sue Salazar and the Interior Department's Minerals Management Service (MMS) for failing to get environmental permits required by two environmental laws -- the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act.

The group said the Interior Department has approved three lease sales, more than 100 seismic surveys and more than 300 drilling operations since Salazar took office in 2009 without the required environmental permits meant to protect endangered whales and other marine mammals.

Let's see: 300 drilling permits in a little over a year versus the 5,200 per-year average (more than 41,000 total) issued by the Bush administration.

This isn't about Salazar.

[polichick]

6. You missed the key words...

"without the required environmental permits meant to protect endangered whales and other marine mammals"

Big surprise.

[ProSense]

8. Here are the key words:

300 drilling permits in a little over a year versus the 5,200 per-year average (more than 41,000 total) issued by the Bush administration.

[saracat]

10. So that makes it all okay for you? Got it.

[ProSense]

11. Still grasping at straws?

This incident will be investigated, and bogus claims will not factor into the conclusion.

[polichick]

12. This lawsuit isn't about Bush - not that his MMS shouldn't have been...

...held accountable.

As I've said, Obama's rhetoric will be meaningful when he puts someone we can trust in charge. Until then, it's all talk.

[ProSense]

14. What lawsuit?

"The Center for Biological Diversity said it plans to sue "

When they file it, let me know. I'd love to see their argument.

[polichick]

15. Try to remember those key words I pointed out. nt

[saracat]

7. Watch out all the Salazar apologist will target you for this one.

[lonestarnot]

9. Anywhere oil fucks go they create lawlessness. Look at shooteminthefacedick.

[HughMoran]

13. That's one way to get them to stop drilling while safety and environmental concerns are addressed

The other would be to simply STOP ALL DRILLING until these concerns can be addressed properly. Yes, it might take a year or two or three - too fucking bad - they shouldn't have been drilling if they didn't know what the fuck to do if something went wrong anyway.

[Bryn]

16. Good!!!!

Something has to be done about this oil disaster ...

...billions of dollars at expenses of ocean, environment, marine life, birds, fish, oysters, etc., livelihoods of fishermen, people living there, people who enjoy beaches ... just so those oil barons could live high life, rich life for themselves, robbing us all. This is crime. I hope more will come to hold them responsible. Government should have regulated them, but they didn't because they also take money..just as bad.