>>There was no need for a backup plan since Obama exempted this major political contributor from normal procedures.
Do you have some documented sources on this? I’m not challenging you—I just want to see the evidence. This could explain a lot about why the administration is being so quiet on this “crisis” (and letting it “go to waste”).
Here’s one (but its the NYT, so don’t trust everything in it):http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/14agency.html
SAN FRANCISCO - The Center for Biological Diversity today filed a formal notice of intent to sue Interior Secretary Ken Salazar for ignoring marine-mammal protection laws when approving offshore drilling operations in the Gulf of Mexico.
Since Salazar took office, the Department of the Interior has approved three lease sales, more than 100 seismic surveys, and more than 300 drilling operations without permits required by the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act that are designed to protect endangered whales and other marine mammals from harmful offshore oil activities.
"Under Salazar's watch, the Department of the Interior has treated the Gulf of Mexico as a sacrifice area where laws are ignored and wildlife protection takes a backseat to oil-company profits," said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans director for the Center.
LINK below
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2010/marine-mammals-05-14-2010.html