Posted on 10/25/2012 1:38:22 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Taking heat on the campaign trail over fossil fuel production on federal lands, the Interior Department today announced an oil and gas lease sale that will offer more than 20 million acres off the coast of Texas and will make available all unleased areas in the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
The sale will be held Nov. 28 in New Orleans.
The Presidents commitment to a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy is creating jobs here at home while reducing our dependence on foreign oil, said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. Exploration and development of our Western Gulfs vital energy resources will continue to help power our nation and drive our economy.
This will be the first offshore sale under the Administrations new Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 20122017, a five-year program thats come under criticism from Republicans.
Gulf Coast Sens. David Vitter (R-La.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) fought back this summer with a bill, which got stuck in committee, to repeal and replace with a 5-year plan more in line with the energy and economic needs of the United States.
Obamas five-year lease plan for offshore production is only half of what the previous plan was moving us in the complete wrong direction of where our energy production should be headed, Vitter said. The fall-off from the leasing and permitting actions of the Obama administration is very significant, and its projected to get even worse.
This sale is part of the regionally tailored approach that we are taking under the Five Year Program, said Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Tommy P. Beaudreau. We are committed to promoting the safe development of the Nations vital offshore oil and gas resources while also safeguarding the marine and coastal environments.
UPDATE: House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) charged that the administration is desperately trying to pretend it supports increased oil and gas production.
With only two weeks until the national election, President Obama is recycling his failed energy policies by announcing an offshore lease sale for the same areas that the Administration held a sale for last December. Meanwhile, at a time when increased offshore energy production in new areas could create thousands of jobs, President Obama is keeping 85 percent of Americas offshore under lock and key, said Hastings.
President Obama has spent the last four years constructing American energy roadblocks and his five year moratorium on 85 percent of Americas offshore energy resources is just another example of how his efforts are making America more dependent on foreign energy. With 23 million Americans looking for work, President Obama is still using his same failed energy policies that havent helped create jobs, grow the economy or make America more energy secure.
By that time, Obama will be a lame duck, and President elect Romney will be preparing to do much more to get the energy ball rolling.
An auction on November 28. Wanna bet that this never comes to pass so long as Obummer is in office?
” The Presidents commitment to a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy is creating jobs here at home while reducing our dependence on foreign oil, said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “
Somebody should wake up Kenny Salazar and tell him that he’s 3 years and 11 months late !!
Then we will hear of Zero’s remade-up history in 8 years when he tells us of how he boosted American energy production.
Don’t forget that the American public is used to its news and history in 2 minute sound-bytes .
"OFFERS" ? !
“the Interior Department today announced an oil and gas lease sale”
An 11th hour campaign promise, to be met with a hold by Obama’s EPA on November 7th.
And then on Nov 7, assuming this bribe works, EPA will “invite” evirowhack groups to sue them to “force” them to declare it “insufficiently studied”; then pay their legal fees, as well as give them some tax dollars as “damages”.
EPA/WH probably already has the groups pre-selected and onboard.
Obama reminds me of an irresponsible, lazy kid, who doesn’t do his homework the entire semester, and has to cram for an exam the night before. No economic plan after the first 4 years? No problem! Here’s this 20 page brochure hot off the presses! The sequester for the military on January 1st that Obama imposed during the negotiation with Republicans is unpopular? No problem. Obama says it’s not going to happen during the 3rd debate...until Plouffe walks the comment back right afterwards. People can clearly see that he’s declared war against the oil and gas industry by rejecting applications for leases? No problem. Here’s a bunch of land to be leased, declared less than 2 weeks before the election. He’s just flying by the seat of his pants! He looks smaller and smaller every day.
I am not a fan of Obama nor his administration, just a fan of the actual facts. So please don't take the following as a show of support for Obama. I am just trying to keep FReepers informed on this topic.
The 5 year plan including this lease sale was submitted in June and approved in August. It is not a last minute change.
There have been GOM offshore lease sales on:
March 18, 2009
http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Lease-Sales/208/index.aspx
March 17, 2010
http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Lease-Sales/213/index.aspx
(The Deepwater Horizon explosion and Macondo well blowout began April 20 , 2010)
December 14, 2011
http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Lease-Sales/218/index.aspx
Since at least 1980, the Feds have used a 5 year plan to give advance notice of upcoming sales. At the link below are the past seven 5 year plans. Sometimes that plans are updated and new one released prior to the completion of the current plan.
BTTT
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