The U.S. “unlawfully and improperly delayed” permits for deep-water drilling after the BP Plc Gulf of Mexico oil spill last year, a federal judge said.
U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman today ordered offshore energy regulators to act within 30 days on six pending permit applications filed by companies that have contracts with Ensco Offshore Co., the Louisiana drilling company leading the legal challenge to the government’s offshore drilling bans.
Federal law “establishes a non-discretionary duty on the Department of Interior to act, favorably or unfavorably, on drilling permit applications within a reasonable time,” Feldman said in his 16-page order. Ensco was harmed by “the government’s failure to act on pending permit applications contemplating the use of Ensco’s rigs,” he said.
The Obama administration suspended all drilling in waters deeper than 500 feet last May in response to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. More than 4.1 million barrels of crude leaked into the Gulf after the Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank while drilling a subsea well for BP off the Louisiana coast in April.
Wyn Hornbuckle, spokesman for the U.S. Justice Department, didn’t immediately respond to a call for comment.
After offshore companies and regional business and political leaders sued in June, Feldman threw out the government’s deep-water drilling moratorium as overly broad and punitive to the Gulf Coast economy. Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar imposed a second ban in July. That ban was also challenged in court, and Salazar withdrew it in October before Feldman could rule on its validity.
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U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman today ordered offshore energy regulators to act within 30 days on six pending permit applications filed by companies that have contracts with Ensco Offshore Co., the Louisiana drilling company leading the legal challenge to the government’s offshore drilling bans.
Federal law “establishes a non-discretionary duty on the Department of Interior to act, favorably or unfavorably, on drilling permit applications within a reasonable time,” Feldman said in his 16-page order. Ensco was harmed by “the government’s failure to act on pending permit applications contemplating the use of Ensco’s rigs,” he said.
The Obama administration suspended all drilling in waters deeper than 500 feet last May in response to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. More than 4.1 million barrels of crude leaked into the Gulf after the Deepwater Horizon exploded and sank while drilling a subsea well for BP off the Louisiana coast in April.
Wyn Hornbuckle, spokesman for the U.S. Justice Department, didn’t immediately respond to a call for comment.
After offshore companies and regional business and political leaders sued in June, Feldman threw out the government’s deep-water drilling moratorium as overly broad and punitive to the Gulf Coast economy. Interior Secretary Kenneth Salazar imposed a second ban in July. That ban was also challenged in court, and Salazar withdrew it in October before Feldman could rule on its validity.
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1 comment:
socialism at its best...let it keep going to way it is and gas will be $8 a gallon.I think the term your looking for is racketeering. Oh,thats legal...as long as the fed has they're hand it it, your screwed!!!.remember,there is no oversight at the federal level.If you think there is your only kidding yourself. It's the invisable monster that is going to be the end of your country. Take time out of your busy life to enjoy every day... :) and never forget, "God made it" !!! they hate it when your right...
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