Posted on 03/09/2005 9:01:15 PM PST by Citizen James
SAN FRANCISCO - Conservation groups sued the Bush administration Wednesday for extending leases for oil and gas drilling off the central California coast, claiming that increased production would harm marine ecosystems and coastal residents.
The groups challenge the U.S. Interior Department's conclusion that no environmental impact would result from the extension of 37 leases for drilling off the coasts of Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Those leases have not been used to produce oil or natural gas.
"Extending the leases would allow the companies to pursue development, which could have a tremendous impact to our marine and coastal environment and our air and water quality," said Linda Krop, an attorney for the Environmental Defense Center, one of the 10 plaintiffs.
The Interior Department hasn't seen the lawsuit and declined to comment, said spokesman Dan DuBray.
The leases were originally sold to oil companies between 1968 and 1984 and set to expire in 1999. The leases allow for the exploration, development and production of oil and natural gas, though lease holders must get additional permits to pursue such activities.
In a previous lawsuit filed by environmental groups, a federal appeals court ordered the Marine Management Service, a division of the Interior Department, to conduct an environmental analysis of the environmental impact of extending the leases. Last month the agency concluded that extending the leases for 13 to 37 months would not have any significant affect on the environment.
In Wednesday's lawsuit, filed in federal court in San Francisco, the groups claim the agency failed to consider all the potential impacts of extending the leases, including how future exploration, drilling and production could increase air and water pollution. They also allege that planned acoustic surveys using air guns could disturb or kill fish and marine mammals.
These are the first people who would b!tch about paying 3-bucks for a gallon of gas.
This is just plain wrong on so many levels.
Groups without legal standing introduce a lawsuit against someone mostly immune from legal actions during his term of office for taking LEGAL actions, all for the sake of thwarting potential FUTURE damages.
These Eco-communists are totally nuts.
No mollusks for oil!
You don't need to drive an "SUV", because they don't want to. You don't need a toilet that flushes, because they don't have to. You can't appreciate the beauty of a Cross on a hill, because it offends them.
Them can go to Hades. Not good English, but at least not Engrish.
No, they're not. Keeping oil off the market pleases their donors to no end.
The biggest biggest donors to environmental NGOs are usually the private, tax-exempt, "charitable" foundations built with oil company wealth.
Most in LA dont know there's drilling going on all around them.
Ventura, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo
YEP!
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
Why? Their skateboards don't use any.
You're right. Neither do their Berkinstocks.
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