Judge Blocks Offshore Drilling Ban

Wall Street Journal ^ | 6-22-10

[Justaham]

A judge blocked the six-month moratorium on new deepwater drilling imposed by the Obama administration after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a ruling the White House immediately said it would appeal.

Several companies that ferry people and supplies and provide other services to offshore drilling rigs had asked U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans to overturn the moratorium.

[SonOfDarkSkies]

Judge Feldman nailed this issue squarely with this...

"Are all airplanes a danger because one was?" the judge wrote. "All oil tankers like Exxon Valdez? All trains? All mines? That sort of thinking seems heavy-handed, and rather overbearing."

IMO that kind of thinking suggests a hidden motive to the Administration's action.

[a real Sheila]

that is freaking HILARIOUS!

[sickoflibs]

RE :”A federal judge Tuesday overturned the Obama administration's six-month moratorium on new deepwater oil and gas drilling, handing a major victory to the oil industry and delivering a stinging rebuke to the White House. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Tuesday the administration would immediately appeal the decision. ... U.S. District Judge Martin L.C. Feldman, in siding with the industry, said the administration had trivialized the economic impact of the moratorium. He added that the plaintiffs “have established a likelihood of successfully showing that the Administration acted arbitrarily and capriciously in issuing the moratorium.” “An invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country,” Judge Feldman wrote. In his ruling, Judge Feldman said the moratorium “does not seem to be fact-specific” and did not account for the safety records of the many companies that operate in the Gulf. “Are all airplanes a danger because one was?” the judge wrote. “All oil tankers like Exxon Valdez? All trains? All mines? That sort of thinking seems heavy-handed, and rather overbearing.”

Obama doesnt care about this decision (in fact it probably helps him). This ban is all about appeasing his angry base voter. But this is good news.

[a real Sheila]

I have mixed emotions.
I am so saddened and angered by what is happening in the gulf right now.

I do NOT think a 6 mo. moratorium was necessary.
I DO, however, think possibly that a 30 day moratorium was necessary to ensure those who are drilling were in compliance with safety rules. Even Obama’s panel recommended this, (which he later lied and said they recommended a 6 mo. moratorium).

Assuming there ARE rules.

Or has the MMS (or whatever U call it) been TOTALLY lax in setting standards, enforcing anything, inspecting anything, etc.?

OTOH, it appears that WHEN a screw up DOES HAPPEN, as we are now seeing, there is not much that can be done to stop it. Many here would argue “But it only happens every 50 years!” Well, we are seeing now that we cannot even tolerate that.

[sportscaster]

We are still a nation of laws despite the wishes of the big

eared dictator wannabe in the White Hut.All his BS should be

challenged in court immediately.The left’s own tactics used

against them.Sweet.

[Man50D]

There is no mention if the ruling will be stayed until an appeal is ruled upon.

[stephenjohnbanker]

Obama = Whiny Little Bitch

[kittymyrib]

There will be lots of celebrating in LA...not that the BO lapdogs will show that on the evening news.
Thank you, dear Pres. Reagan, for appointing Judge Feldman, one the the few sensible federal judges we have left.

[Guenevere]

On another thread, they said this was a Reagan appointed judge.