Federal Judge blocks offshore drilling moratorium

Ogre · « **on:** June 22, 2010, 03:13:53 PM »

Quote

Federal Judge Blocks Obama's Offshore Drilling Moratorium in Gulf of Mexico

A federal judge in New Orleans on Tuesday blocked a six-month moratorium on new deepwater drilling projects imposed in response to the massive Gulf oil spill.

The White House promised an immediate appeal. President Obama's administration had halted approval of any new permits for deepwater drilling and suspended drilling of 33 exploratory wells in the Gulf.

Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Obama believes strongly that drilling at such depths does not make any sense and puts the safety of workers "at a danger that the president does not believe we can afford."

Several companies that ferry people and supplies and provide other services to offshore drilling rigs asked U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans to overturn the moratorium, arguing it was arbitrarily imposed.

Feldman agreed, saying in his ruling the Interior Department seemed to assume that because one rig failed, all companies and rigs doing deepwater drilling pose an imminent danger.

"An invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country," Feldman wrote.

The moratorium was imposed after the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig that killed 11 workers and blew out the well that has spewed millions of gallons of oil into the Gulf.

The Interior Department said it needed time to study the risks of deepwater drilling. But the lawsuit filed by Hornbeck Offshore Services of Covington, La., claimed there was no proof the other operations posed a threat.

Company CEO Todd Hornbeck said after the ruling that he is looking forward to getting back to work.

"It's the right thing for not only the industry but the country," he said.

The moratorium was declared May 6 and originally was to last only through the month. Obama announced May 27 that he was extending it for six months.

In Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal and corporate leaders have said the moratorium will force drilling rigs leaving the Gulf of Mexico for lucrative business in foreign waters.

They say the loss of business will cost the area thousands of lucrative jobs, most paying more than $50,000 a year. The state's other major economic sector, tourism, is a largely low-wage industry.

In its response to the lawsuit, the Interior Department said the moratorium is necessary as attempts to stop the leak and clean the Gulf continue and new safety standards are developed.

"A second deepwater blowout could overwhelm the efforts to respond to the current disaster," the Interior Department said.

The government also challenged contentions the moratorium will lead to long-term economic harm. Although 33 deepwater drilling sites were affected, there are still 3,600 oil and natural gas production platforms in the Gulf.

Catherine Wannamaker, a lawyer for environmental groups that intervened in the case and supported the moratorium, called the ruling "a step in the wrong direction."

"We think it overlooks the ongoing harm in the Gulf, the devastation it has had on people's lives," she said. "The harm at issue with the Deepwater Horizon spill is bigger than just the Louisiana economy. It affects all of the Gulf."

Discuss.

GH2001 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2010, 03:15:33 PM »

Great news. That is all.

Saniflush · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2010, 03:20:52 PM »

Quote from: GH2001 on June 22, 2010, 03:15:33 PM

Great news. That is all.

This

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2010, 03:24:11 PM »

How about a moratorium on the moratorium on drilling closer in so this shit can be managed if something should go wrong?

JR4AU · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2010, 03:24:32 PM »

Quote from: GH2001 on June 22, 2010, 03:15:33 PM

Great news. That is all.

Don't y'all understand that stopping drilling will make things better?????????

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2010, 03:45:02 PM »

Quote from: JR4AU on June 22, 2010, 03:24:32 PM

Don't y'all understand that stopping drilling will make things better?????????

I'm making the commitment to go full-on green from this point forward. No more dependence on oil and the mega-conglomerates making their billions. I'm starting over completely. I'm going to go out and buy a solar powered car. I think I'll commemorate my new attitude by draining the oil from my old clunker and holding a ceremony while I pour it into the stream in the woods down from my house. Bye-bye oil. May dump my old car battery in there too since I won't need it anymore.

JR4AU · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2010, 03:52:17 PM »

Quote from: Harvey Birdman on June 22, 2010, 03:45:02 PM

I'm making the commitment to go full-on green from this point forward. No more dependence on oil and the mega-conglomerates making their billions. I'm starting over completely. I'm going to go out and buy a solar powered car. I think I'll commemorate my new attitude by draining the oil from my old clunker and holding a ceremony while I pour it into the stream in the woods down from my house. Bye-bye oil. May dump my old car battery in there too since I won't need it anymore.

This!

Saniflush · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2010, 04:07:22 PM »

Quote from: Harvey Birdman on June 22, 2010, 03:45:02 PM

I'm making the commitment to go full-on green from this point forward. No more dependence on oil and the mega-conglomerates making their billions. I'm starting over completely. I'm going to go out and buy a solar powered car. I think I'll commemorate my new attitude by draining the oil from my old clunker and holding a ceremony while I pour it into the stream in the woods down from my house. Bye-bye oil. May dump my old car battery in there too since I won't need it anymore.

Your new lifestyle has struck a chord with me. I'm going home right and empty out every aerosol can I can find.

GH2001 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2010, 04:23:42 PM »

Quote from: Saniflush on June 22, 2010, 04:07:22 PM

Your new lifestyle has struck a chord with me. I'm going home right and empty out every aerosol can I can find.

I drove up beside a Prius yesterday in my Expedition to announce my intention of joining him in the green cause. I did a celebratory 1 minute revving of the V8 to make it official.

FWIW - I have a German gas saver too so don't judge haters...

AUTiger1 · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2010, 04:51:38 PM »

Quote from: Harvey Birdman on June 22, 2010, 03:24:11 PM

How about a moratorium on the moratorium on drilling closer in so this poop can be managed if something should go wrong?

eagleair89 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2010, 05:07:51 PM »

Quote from: GH2001 on June 22, 2010, 04:23:42 PM

I drove up beside a Prius yesterday in my Expedition ...........

you missed one helluva an opportunity there............recycling is environmentally friendly too!

GH2001 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 22, 2010, 05:10:23 PM »

Quote from: eagleair89 on June 22, 2010, 05:07:51 PM

you missed one helluva an opportunity there............recycling is environmentally friendly too!

This is why I like you EA. Never a great opportunity squandered with you. I salute you

AWK · « **Reply #12 on:** June 22, 2010, 08:33:49 PM »

I got a chance to review this moratorium. Whoever wrote this should be shot or fired. Legally speaking, it is the worst motion I have ever read. It is way too broad...and vague...and utterly stupid.

Their reasoning behind the moratorium...wait for it...

Drilling is too dangerous...

GH2001 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2010, 08:58:37 PM »

Quote from: AWK on June 22, 2010, 08:33:49 PM

I got a chance to review this injunction. Whoever wrote this should be shot or fired. Legally speaking, it is the worst TRI I have ever read. It is way too broad...and vague...and utterly stupid.

Their reasoning behind the injuction...wait for it...

Drilling is too dangerous...

I am not sure I am following you. You are speaking of the injunction to get the moratorium lifted, correct? The moratorium being = Obama has halted drilling off the shelf for 6 months.

And you are saying the reason they want the moratorium lifted (which would allow the deep water drilling again) is because drilling is too dangerous? That makes no sense. It would make sense if you said that was the reason behind the moratorium, but being the reasoning behind the injunction?

AWK · « **Reply #14 on:** June 22, 2010, 09:15:16 PM »

Quote from: GH2001 on June 22, 2010, 08:58:37 PM

I am not sure I am following you. You are speaking of the injunction to get the moratorium lifted, correct? The moratorium being = Obama has halted drilling off the shelf for 6 months.

And you are saying the reason they want the moratorium lifted (which would allow the deep water drilling again) is because drilling is too dangerous? That makes no sense. It would make sense if you said that was the reason behind the moratorium, but being the reasoning behind the injunction?

I meant to say moratorium. Sorry, was reading and typing. Fixed.

AUTailgatingRules · « **Reply #15 on:** June 22, 2010, 11:57:21 PM »

I think I'll go green too. I'm quitting my job selling plastics and going on one of the many federal entitlements that I am entitled to. I will no longer need a car as i will no longer be driving to work. I will however be keeping my air conditioning (don't think the red head will like living in a 90 degree house)

GarMan · « **Reply #16 on:** June 23, 2010, 08:51:40 AM »

Quote from: AWK on June 22, 2010, 08:33:49 PM

I got a chance to review this moratorium. Whoever wrote this should be shot or fired. Legally speaking, it is the worst motion I have ever read. It is way too broad...and vague...and utterly stupid.

Their reasoning behind the moratorium...wait for it...

Drilling is too dangerous...

Careful there... Liberal logic is not open for debate in the magical, wonderful world of The Obama.

GH2001 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2010, 10:03:08 AM »

Quote from: AWK on June 22, 2010, 09:15:16 PM

I meant to say moratorium. Sorry, was reading and typing. Fixed.

Aight...I just thought I had been drinking too early. Makes sense now....And yes - that is ridiculous. And the judge thought so too.

GarMan · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2010, 10:29:24 AM »

Quote from: GH2001 on June 23, 2010, 10:03:08 AM

Aight...I just thought I had been drinking too early. Makes sense now....And yes - that is ridiculous. And the judge thought so too.

This reminds me of the crap that was thrown around during all of the nuclear energy debates in the late '70s and early '80s. It's all the same garbage again with a slightly different subject... It's too dangerous... It's too scary... We don't know enough... Etc, etc, etc... RIDICULOUS is an extreme understatement!

Tiger Wench · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2010, 10:34:43 AM »

Quote

"An invalid agency decision to suspend drilling of wells in depths of over 500 feet simply cannot justify the immeasurable effect on the plaintiffs, the local economy, the Gulf region, and the critical present-day aspect of the availability of domestic energy in this country," Feldman wrote.

The most logical thing I have ever read coming out of that court... but Feldman is spot on.

Todd Hornbeck is a business acquaintance. Not surprised that he led the charge. Hornbeck is a huge company in the GOM. He has to be bleeding money right now.