A New Orleans federal judge lifted the six-month moratorium imposed on deepwater drilling by President Barack Obama after the BP spill. In New Orleans, U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman found that the administration had failed to satisfy requirements for notice and comment from industry. The case is Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC v. Salazar, 2:10-cv-01663(E.D. La.).
The ban stopped all drilling deeper than 500 feet on May 27 until the completion of a commission report.
The Louisiana governor is pushing for more drilling as the spill worsens off his coast. However, Feldman was faced with a clear procedural violation and ordered the moratorium lifted. Louisiana officials also argued that the federal government failed to consult with state officials as well as industry.
In granting the injunction, Feldman stated:
“Much to the government’s discomfort and this Court’s uneasiness, the summary also states that ‘the recommendations contained in this report have been peer-reviewed by seven experts identified by the National Academy of Engineering.’ As the plaintiffs, and the experts themselves, pointedly observe, this statement was misleading,”
Feldman has been criticized for ruling on the matter despite his own personal investments in the oil industry.
Obama has only agreed to suspend his lifting of drilling on the Eastern Shore — a move that was denounced by environmentalists before the BP spill.
Source: Bloomberg.
How much do you suppose a whore like Haley up there makes a year? I could do that job & I could do it a hell of a lot better than Haley did.
Him: Would you go to bed with me for a million dollars?
Her: I suppose.
Him: How about for 10 bucks?
Her: What kind of girl do you take me for?
Him: We have established that, now I am haggling price!
I know what kind of ‘girl’ I am – if the price is right!
ID,
It is my understanding that the reach of most states is 12 miles off shore. That anything else is international water and subject to well, the Jones Act. Bush waived it in 05 and the oil industry was put back in Business. (BTW, Exxon is still holding on to 5 billion to rebuild the refinery and has not do so yet.)
It also has many components that have to be satisfied.
For the act see the Jones Act. There are two others do not confuse the the nationality acts with the maritime act.
http://www.1800jonesact.com/1917-jones-act/default.html
BIL:
“And where, I ask you, can one find better companions than here?”
****************
Nusquam!
Well, it always helps to read the opinion, rather than guess or speculate. Here’s what the opinion in essence says:
There’s a statute called the Outer Continental Lands and Shelf Act which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to halt oil drilling in any off shore rig if he or she thinks there’s a threat to wildlife, environmental disaster, etc. That was the basis for Salazar issuing a “Notice to Lessees” to halt drilling, not the permits or the leases.
The NYT has a link to the opinion.