Two plans are on the way for coastal drilling leases

Chron.com ^ | 3/4/10 | JENNIFER A. DLOUHY

[Nachum]

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration will announce its plans for coastal oil and gas drilling leases by the end of March, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Wednesday.

Salazar told the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that he was preparing two plans to govern leases on the outer continental shelf — one with court-mandated changes that would apply through June 30, 2012, and another completely new blueprint for leasing from July 1, 2012, until 2017.

The decision to go with sequential schedules means Salazar is scrapping a Bush-era proposal for 2010 through 2015 that would have allowed leases on Pacific and Atlantic waters where drilling has been off limits for decades.

President Barack Obama has repeatedly touted the possibility of expanding offshore drilling this year as part of broad legislation to promote renewable energy and combat global warming. But a new plan for the outer continental shelf could for the first time detail exactly where the administration envisions any new offshore production.

[hsalaw]

Would this be drilling by and for the benefit of the US? Or is the Obungler giving away our oil rights to his buddy Chavez?

[1066AD]

Noting Exxon Mobil Corp.'s record-breaking 2008 $45  billion profit, Salazar said: “I don't think that frankly any of these fees that we are talking about here are going to put anybody out of business.”

What an idiot.

Why would you use the largest in the country as an example ?

[Nachum]

The list, ping

[RC2]

One problem here.....It takes about five years to get permits approved. They need to cut this by 2/3. I had thought that Salazar was against all drilling off shore?

[yoe]

But Salazar said it has been difficult to devise a new way forward “because of the failure … of the earlier plan.”

Anyone know what that"failure" was? Or is this just more Bush bashing because they really don't know what to do....?

[MrChips]

The whole thing is just giving lip-service to those who want more drilling. It taxes the oil industry heavily, gives far smaller royalties to the states involved (thus decreasing the desire of states to do it), and is only part of "broad legislation to promote renewable energy and combat global warming." In other words, it is pure Saul Alinsky . . . it make it look like they are doing what they are not.

[yoe]

(Salazar to Toughen U.S. Drilling Rules)

(Polar Bear Testimony Suppressed Due to 'Inconvenient' Truths)

Salazar pushed carbon footprints along with Algore and other nits....