US to open 3.9m acres in Alaska for drilling

Financial Times ^ | July 16, 2008 | Sheila McNulty

[bobsunshine]

The US federal government on Wednesday said it would open 3.9m acres of land in a designated petroleum reserve in Alaska for drilling as a means to help curb rising petrol prices.

“This is welcome news at a time when Americans are paying record prices at the pump,” said C. Stephen Allred, assistant US Secretary for Land and Minerals. “Together with proposed new production from other offshore and onshore areas, these increased supplies will help to stabilise energy costs.’’

The Alaska decision follows one by President George W. Bush on Monday to lift a presidential ban on drilling on the US outer continental shelf, off Florida. That decision still requires Congress to lift a separate ban on the area before the area can be leased for development.

But the Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the US Department of the Interior, said the Alaskan land that will now be offered requires no other approvals and will be up for leasing in the autumn.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Grease up the drill bits with baby seal fat and polar bear blubber

Some enviornut greenie is going to see your comment and brand us as all insensitive cruel anti polar Bear meanies and call PETA ....Damn.../s

[CharlesWayneCT]

This is NOT ANWR. This is another section of Alaska.

Still good news. Just not “surprising”.

[Jedidah]

I believe that Bush has not stepped in until now in order to allow the market to work and to raise public awareness of the dilemma and the challenge we face.

Thanks to pain in the pocketbook, we are now conserving. That’s a natural consequence and a good way to drive the point home.

He was right yesterday when he said the American public was smart enough to look at their checkbooks and conserve without the government haranguing us. My paraphrase.

Now that the public is hurting and listening, Bush can get this done.

This is not a new problem. Those of us who lived through the Arab oil embargo of 1974 know that. But we haven’t hurt enough since then to face the facts and do something about it.

[SierraWasp]

"Grease up the drill bits with baby seal fat and polar bear blubber and let 'em start turning to the right."

LET's ROLL!!!

[SierraWasp]

Hey! That’s even worse than “but Moses invests!!!”

[maine-iac7]

making it a condition of the lease by oil and gas companies that polar bears, waterfowl and caribou are protected.

bears and the caribou LOVE the pipelines - Bears use the pipelines like a highway - because the pipes are warm on their tootsies - and the caribou herds have increased due to them giving birth under the pipes for the warmth and the green strip of grass.

[Vicki]

Well the British don't understand that Congress has to lift its ban on the drilling. The President had hoped they would do it first, but of course they didn't.

I know Pelosi has not let this issue get to the floor for a vote, but I keep hearing something about 78 days and then I guess they have to vote.

[gleeaikin]

“Probably why the price [of oil] dropped yesterday.”

Yes, $7 yesterday, and another $4 today see:

http://futures.tradingcharts.com/marketquotes/index.php3?market=CL

[Humble Servant]

” That’s one way to piss off congress “

Which would I enjoy more, pissing off Congress, or pissing on Congress? Hmmm. Decisions, Decisions.

[gleeaikin]

3.9 million acres is an area a little less than 80 miles by 80 miles square. Not terribly large by Alaska standards.

[Go Gordon]

The ‘rats will not allow it to get to the floor for a vote.

Then the yearly renewable ban will sunset and drilling will be allowed (continental shelf drilling)

[enduserindy]

“The people in the know”

You mean Chavez is right? I have this 300 (thud,) I mean 75 dollar a barrel oil! (Picture Mel Brooks with the 15/10 commandments.) This is the stuff that makes it all worth while. The best part is Peloosa and Hairy Red telling us drilling won’t fix it! The down side is it takes this issue off the table by November?

[Scotswife]

“Then the yearly renewable ban will sunset and drilling will be allowed (continental shelf drilling) “

sweet.
No wonder they’re trying to distract us with another tax rebate.
Ya gotta love it when they squirm like this!

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

And the price of a barrel of crude oil has dropped how much in two days since Bush’s original announcement?!

[calex59]

Notice that the MSM isn't reporting this. They want the dems to be able to claim that NOT drilling lowered the prices. This item coupled with the Presidents lifting the executive order and his insistence to congress to allow off shore drilling, and with the backing of the American public(strong backing I might add)is the reason for the drop in oil prices over the last several days. However, the news media is claiming every thing but the preceding has caused the drop.

The love the big lie and will keep repeating them.

[Scotswife]

“Bears use the pipelines like a highway - because the pipes are warm on their tootsies - and the caribou herds have increased due to them giving birth under the pipes for the warmth and the green strip of grass.”

There’s gotta be something very WRONG and UNNATURAL about that.
I’m not sure what...but if I try real hard to think like a liberal, I’ll find something.

[NotJustAnotherPrettyFace]

SUPPORT PACIFIC LEGAL FOUNDATION who will take on the "greenie" legal fights!

[SunkenCiv]

The Alaska decision follows one by President George W. Bush on Monday to lift a presidential ban on drilling on the US outer continental shelf, off Florida. That decision still requires Congress to lift a separate ban on the area before the area can be leased for development... the Bureau of Land Management, an agency within the US Department of the Interior, said the Alaskan land that will now be offered requires no other approvals and will be up for leasing in the autumn.

Oil rigs will soon drill Alaska, but today, the Lame duck President drills the Demwits in Congress. ;')

[Carry_Okie]

Here comes a lawsuit.

For anyone who wants to know why this works the way it does, it's a long post, but it explains a lot.

By the time they're done this will work just like the Healthy Forest Initiative didn't.

[Myrddin]

If congress limited energy exports to 10% or less from the CONUS or it’s territorial waters would that be a quicker fix ?

Not according to what I heard cited today. Our total energy exports amount to 1/2 day of usage and are directly solely to a U.S. territory...Puerto Rico.

The 10% of the SPR that Pelosi is squawking about amounts to only 3 days usage. Little help on driving prices down, but a significant hit to a crucial military resource. That is really what Pelosi wants. Hurt the military while, give the appearance of "doing something" while accomplishing nothing.