Posted on 06/10/2011 10:38:19 PM PDT by smokingfrog
WASHINGTON -- Lawsuits filed Thursday that challenge the federal government's approval of a Shell Oil Co. offshore exploration plan present a major test of regulators' power to swiftly review deep-water drilling blueprints.
In two separate but overlapping filings, conservationists argue the government was bound by federal law to first finish a post-spill environmental study of the Gulf of Mexico before approving Shell's plan last month.
The legal complaints were filed in the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals — one by the Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity and the Natural Resources Defense Council and the other by Earthjustice, the Gulf Restoration Network, the Florida Wildlife Federation and the Sierra Club.
The Defenders of Wildlife coalition alleges that by approving Shell's exploration plan, the government violated the National Environmental Policy Act and several other federal laws that generally require environmental studies and coordination with other agencies before actions they take that could hurt marine life or affect the environment. Earthjustice's more limited challenge focuses on the environmental policy law.
The litigation carries high stakes for the government and the oil and gas industry. A ruling against the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement could deal a crippling blow to the agency and thwart chances of companies quickly launching new deep-water drilling projects in the Gulf. By contrast, a decision in the agency's favor would bolster its chances of swiftly reviewing offshore drilling plans in the future.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
How much offshore oil money do these groups get?
AH!... but WHO funds the environmental group in question?..
Soros or some other left wing enabler?..
Usually its not about the environment..
ITS ABOUT POLITICS...
Before groups like Defenders of Wildlife, Center for Biological Diversity, Natural Resources Defense Council, Earthjustice, Gulf Restoration Network, Florida Wildlife Federation, and Sierra Club are allowed to object to an oil project, they should be required to show when they have ever favored any oil project anywhere.
The fact is that they oppose any project that is not an OPEC project. They will produce reams of paper detailing their objections to whatever project you’ve got in mind but the short version is simply this: its not OPEC, and they aren’t for it. OPEC projects are good for the earth. Non-OPEC projects have to be smothered in the crib where ever you find them.
Granted, once Palin is elected she’ll have plenty to do, but I hope she makes it impossible for these communist front groups to have any standing whatsoever. I’d prefer they were outlawed entirely, but I’ll take what I can get.
If we get all 3 back, Legislate that domestic/offshore drilling/mining for natural resources is a matter of national security and attempts to stop it are treasonous.
Enough of this crap.
It Begins… First Oil Rig Relocates From Gulf to Foreign Waters
"As a result of the uncertainties surrounding the offshore drilling moratorium, we are actively seeking international opportunities to keep our rigs fully employed," Dickerson said. "We greatly regret the loss of U.S. jobs that will result from this rig relocation."
Idled Gulf Rigs Head For Africa
It is not just Gulf operations that are being effected either.
Wait and see for Shell {Shell puts Arctic drilling plans on hold, waiting on feds}
Let's not leave the refineries out.
EPA gives final "no" to Texas refinery permits
Then there are the land-based oil leases.
Judge Grills Feds on Pulling Drilling Leases"A federal judge on Wednesday questioned Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's justification for canceling 77 drilling leases sold by the Bush administration around national parks in Utah."
U.S. Saw Drill Ban Killing Many Jobs [ie. Obama KNEW he was destroying jobs, kept it secret]
Obama and O'Malley are Hurting the Poor in Md by Shutting Down Nuclear Power
Obama Administration Blocking 103 Gulf Drilling Permits February 03, 2011
Obama Clears the Way For America's 2 Largest Oil Wells to be Shutdown in Texas April 25th, 2011 (to "save" an "endangered" lizard)
EPA threatens Utah with air quality sanctions
Energy in America: EPA Rules Force Shell to Abandon Oil Drilling Plans
How come THEY are never found to be ‘WITHOUT STANDING’?.........
Indeed. Because it is.
Congress could fix this Monday morning by repealing the “National Environmental Policy Act and several other federal laws that generally require environmental studies and coordination with other agencies before actions they take that could hurt marine life or affect the environment.”
Do environmental groups ever do anything besides sue?
these assholes, AND the EPA need to be shut down, they are not concerned about the environment, they are enemies of American progress.
Will they sue to protest BHO-Brazil offshore deal?
“How come THEY are never found to be ‘WITHOUT STANDING’?.........”
It would then stand to reason that a well funded group of Americans who are pro-drilling should be formed to sue the environmental groups for harming America.
There are numerous cases where “unintended consequence” have done more damage then good. They need to be held accountable for their actions.
While a great idea (and one that should happen as well), It would still leave econazis an easy hurdle. They would still have near-unfettered access to move their crap through the courts.
By officially codifying all energy and resource matters as a National Security issue (eliminate the DOE/EPA/BLM) and sticking it under the NSA, that makes it one hell of a hurdle and really insurmountable. Since all drilling and mining would be a security issue, the ecos would be barred from accessing both the sites themselves and all the paperwork involved.
They cannot get classified docs turned over.
As for the companies/employees, give them special government clearances. Then they can’t be sued personally as they are acting as agents of the government on official business.
Now I’m sure someone will come along and call me a Communist, but this isn’t federalizing and I don’t really give a damn. Something ‘extreme’ needs to be done to stop this insanity. The companies are still private entities acting on Govt authority. Think security agencies in Iraq/Afghan.
As someone replied earlier, this IS a NatSec issue and why in the name of God is our national security beholden to a bunch of agenda driven liberal/communists? There is no justification for ANY lawsuit to go forward. And since the judiciary cannot be relied on to protect the public interest when fish and flies are involved, We’ll have to get it done like they did in the old days. Ram it down their throats.
Can a dead lawyer still litigate
OPEC
Anybody else looking forward to the day reality doesn’t tolerate groups like this?
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