[Cboldt]

My question ---- can a US company do the drilling alone without Government approval. Like can any oil company start drilling in ANWR or somewhere else on their own?

Good question, and I don't know the entire perimeter of the licensing and permitting requirements.

ANWR is "government owned" land, so any activity there is subject to a lease, license and permit.

Off-shore activity is similary regulated, and exploration and extraction rights are also leased.

I'm not sure about drilling on private land. Years ago, I leased mineral rights for any oil underneath my plot of land, to a firm that was exploring the area. Some states, probably all of them, have a permiting process for drilling well on private property. The Feds impose OSAH workplace safety and EPA environmental protection regimes per the scope of those agencies' regulations.

[eeevil conservative]

The uproar began moments after the new judge, Raouf Abdel-Rahman, took his seat at the bench, signaling the resumption of the trial after a seven-week break.

Sternly addressing the court, Abdel-Rahman announced that he would not allow his courtroom to be used by the defendants to make "political speeches."

When Saddam's half brother, Barzan Ibrahim, rose to complain, a yelling match erupted, and the judge ordered Ibrahim to leave.

Screaming that the court was "the daughter of a whore," Ibrahim was dragged from the courtroom by four guards, as Saddam, the six other defendants and their 13 lawyers leapt to their feet and began shouting.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/myrtlebeachonline/news/world/13743692.htm

LOL! WOW! I wish I had tickets to this circus!!!