President Obama Won't Allow Drilling Off Atlantic, Florida - Won't End Drilling Ban

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Wednesday December 1, 2010

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — President Barack Obama's administration won't allow any new oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico for at least the next seven years because of the BP oil spill.

A senior administration official told The Associated Press on Wednesday that drilling leases won't be considered in the waters off Florida as part of the change. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision hadn't been announced yet.

He said that because of the BP spill, the administration now understands the need to elevate safety and environmental standards. Before the spill, the administration had considered a plan to allow drilling in the eastern Gulf.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to discuss the decision later Wednesday afternoon.


read more: http://newsok.com/ap-source-govt-wont-end-drilling-ban-off-fla./article/3519715

[DrDan]

1. BRAVO!!!

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2. Salazar: Offshore oil drilling ban to be maintained in key areas

1:50 PM ET

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced Wednesday afternoon that the Obama administration will not allow offshore oil drilling in the eastern Gulf of Mexico or off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts as part of the next five-year drilling plan, reversing two key policy changes President Obama announced in late March.

"We are adjusting our strategy in areas where there are no active leases," Salazar told reporters in a phone call, adding that the administration has decided "not expand to new areas at this time" and instead "focus and expand our critical resources on areas that are currently active" when it comes to oil and gas drilling.

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who has consistently pushed to restrict drilling in the eastern gulf, welcomed the news. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called the senator Wednesday morning, according to Nelson spokesman Dan McLaughlin, but the two men did not speak yet because Nelson is chairing a hearing.

Activists such as Margie Alt, executive director of Environment America, also praised the administration's plan, saying, "Today, anyone who loves our beaches, who fishes in the ocean or who depends on a healthy coastal economy can thank the Obama administration for protecting the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and the west coast of Florida from oil drilling. The BP disaster earlier this year was a tragic reminder that drilling is a dirty and dangerous business. The only way to truly keep our coasts and ocean ecosystems safe is to keep them rig free."

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/post-carbon/2010/12/obama_administration_will_ban.html

[postulater]

3. What? No Compromise? How is that bipartisan?

Don't we always have to give something away for anything good to happen?

[BrklynLiberal]

6. lol... Would be funnier if it were not so sad, but true.

[malaise]

4. Wow - a Christmas present at last

PHEW! Great news

[spanone]

5. k&r

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7. kick

[AmandaMae]

8. Yes! I'm glad this is one thing he isn't backing down about.

[JTFrog]

9. K&R

I think the "let it sink" meme has been revived against any good news at DU.

:hi:

[bigtree]

10. kick

:kick:

[one_voice]

11. K & R n/t

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12. kick

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13. kick

[Subdivisions]

14. Thanks for tossing us this bone, Mr. President. n/t

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15. kick