Obama Oil Drilling Plan: East Coast, Alaska Waters Could Open For Drilling
Huffington Post/AP First Posted: 03-31-10 12:14 AM | Updated: 03-31-10 11:50 AM
WASHINGTON -- In a reversal of a long-standing ban on most offshore drilling, President Barack Obama plans to allow oil drilling 50 miles off of Virginia and is considering opening up significant additional stretches along the Atlantic and Alaskan coasts.
Obama's plan will cover a lot of ground -- and water -- offering few concessions to environmentalists, who have been strident in their opposition to more oil platforms off the nation's shores. Hinted at for months, the move would modify a ban that has limited coastal drilling outside the Gulf of Mexico for more than 20 years.
The Los Angeles Times, citing administration officials, summed up the four biggest elements of the plan:
Eventually open two-thirds of the eastern Gulf's oil and gas resources for drilling.
Proceed with drilling off Virginia, provided the project clears environmental and military reviews.
Study the viability of drilling off the mid- and southern Atlantic coasts.
Study the viability of drilling in Alaska's Beaufort and Chukchi seas -- areas hotly defended by environmentalists -- but issue no new drilling leases in either sea before 2013.
full article;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/31/obama-oil-drilling-plan-e_n_519553.html
Huffington Post/AP First Posted: 03-31-10 12:14 AM | Updated: 03-31-10 11:50 AM
WASHINGTON -- In a reversal of a long-standing ban on most offshore drilling, President Barack Obama plans to allow oil drilling 50 miles off of Virginia and is considering opening up significant additional stretches along the Atlantic and Alaskan coasts.
Obama's plan will cover a lot of ground -- and water -- offering few concessions to environmentalists, who have been strident in their opposition to more oil platforms off the nation's shores. Hinted at for months, the move would modify a ban that has limited coastal drilling outside the Gulf of Mexico for more than 20 years.
The Los Angeles Times, citing administration officials, summed up the four biggest elements of the plan:
Eventually open two-thirds of the eastern Gulf's oil and gas resources for drilling.
Proceed with drilling off Virginia, provided the project clears environmental and military reviews.
Study the viability of drilling off the mid- and southern Atlantic coasts.
Study the viability of drilling in Alaska's Beaufort and Chukchi seas -- areas hotly defended by environmentalists -- but issue no new drilling leases in either sea before 2013.
full article;
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/31/obama-oil-drilling-plan-e_n_519553.html