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 | Offshore Drilling: Drilling Rights off VA Coast Facing a Delay |
 A federal plan to sell oil and natural-gas drilling rights off the Virginia coast in November 2011 is facing a delay. The director of Virginia’s Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy was told by a member of a federal agency under DOI that more time is needed to conduct environmental studies on the program. It is unknown how long the delay on the lease sale will be – possibly until 2012 or later. The federal government’s five-year drilling plan calls for drilling leases on almost 3 million acres in an area about 50 miles off the Virginia coast. Obama’s administration is reviewing the plan, which was drawn up by the Bush administration; a congressional and presidential ban on Atlantic Ocean drilling ended in 2008. Virginia’s proposed lease sale would be the first since the ban ended. Governor McDonnell has said he hopes to see the sale proceed in 2011 as planned so that the revenue from drilling can be used to pay for roads and other state needs. It is believed that the proposed leasing area off Virginia could contain 130 million barrels of oil and 1.14 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Richmond Times-Dispatch: Article
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Posted by elizabeth on Monday, February 01 @ 10:16:21 EST (90 reads)
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| Offshore Drilling: Salazar puts Expanded Offshore Drilling on Hold |
 Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced February 10 that he will extend the public comment period for six months on the last-minute proposal by the Bush administration to open U.S. coastline areas for gas and oil drilling. Salazar also said that ocean wind farms would be made a top priority. While Salazar’s decision is very pleasing to many environmentalists who fear oil spills resulting from off shore drilling, others like the American Petroleum Institute are put off by the decision. American Petroleum Institute President Jack Gerard said, “In these tough economic times, Salazar’s delay does a disservice to all Americans. We should be moving as quickly as possible to develop more of our own oil and natural gas to benefit all Americans.” Salazar has ordered his staff to complete a study on the benefits of oil, gas, and renewable development offshore.
LA Times:Article
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Posted by Becca on Tuesday, February 17 @ 09:25:38 EST (303 reads)
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| Offshore Drilling: Secretary of the Interior Likely Won't Stop Offshore Drilling Plan |
Many had hoped that the new administration would help to stop proposed oil and gas drilling off the Virginia coast, but it is unlikely. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar said he wouldn’t interfere in the planned sale of exploration and drilling rights off the coast of Virginia. DOI did say that they will order new studies on the potential economic benefits and environmental risks of offshore drilling. The plans in Virginia may be affected by the results of the study. DOI did delay a Bush-administration proclamation that would expand offshore drilling along more of the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean from 2010–2015. The Virginia offshore drilling proposal was part of an earlier approved plan, which Salazar is inclined to leave alone.
Norfolk Virginian-Pilot: Article
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Posted by elizabeth on Tuesday, February 17 @ 09:01:02 EST (297 reads)
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| Offshore Drilling: Supervisors to Consider Expansion of Oil, Gas Drilling |
 The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors met August 26 to address the energy crisis, with the main focus being on whether or not to drill. Currently, oil and natural gas in the region are producing 13.2 million barrels of oil and 13.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas. It is believed that drilling on undeveloped reserves of developed leases could raise those numbers by 187.4 million more barrels of oil and 47.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas. Also the $5.5 million Santa Barbara County gets from oil now, with additional development, could increase to $ 22 million in the next 14 years. The county suggests sending a letter to Governor Schwarzenegger asking for a change in policy that would “allow expanded oil exploration and extraction.”
Noozhawk: Article
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Posted by Becca on Tuesday, September 02 @ 12:21:51 EDT (323 reads)
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