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Home Front Economy
U.S. Senate votes to lift ban on offshore drilling
2008-09-29
(Xinhua) -- U.S. Senate on Saturday approved to lift a quarter-century ban on offshore oil and gas drilling. President George W. Bush is expected to sign the measure.

Senators approved a 630 billion dollars spending bill by the 78-12 vote. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the same bill which dropped the offshore drilling bans.

In the past 27 years, Congress has passed drilling bans on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts each year because of environmental concerns and pressure from some coastal states worried that drilling might hurt the tourism industry.

However, President George W. Bush has repeatedly urged Congress to lift legislative restrictions on offshore oil drilling to help address rising fuel costs.

Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore oil drilling in July. There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by former President George H. W. Bush in 1990.

Posted by:Fred

#10  In Santa Barbara, the Chumash natives used to caulk they boats with the oily stuff they found. They talked about it in a display at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Posted by: Alaska Paul   2008-09-29 22:00  

#9  Cheader: Santa Barbara, among other sites, have natural oil seeps, sending oil globs to the beaches now....
Posted by: Frank G   2008-09-29 21:52  

#8  While the oil industry has done a lot to clean up their operations over the last thirty years all it will take is one significant spill that washes ashore to get the ban put back in place. Lets hope nobody gets sloppy.
Posted by: Cheaderhead   2008-09-29 16:55  

#7  There's a 12-mile territorial limit and then there's a 200-mile maritime limit (which I understand is mainly for security and inspection interests). After that it's international waters.

The limits get sticky in places like Cuba and Key West, for example, and the US's failure to enforce its own maritime limits is one of the reasons why China is drilling in what could, technically, be called US waters under Cuban auspices.

I don't think the states have any authority outside of 12-miles, however, but the limit has previously extended out to the maritime areas due to Congressional and Presidential edict. The lifting of the ban probably means it's open season on drilling 12 miles or more away from a coastline.

Posted by: FOTSGreg   2008-09-29 13:43  

#6  Federal law supercedes state always.

I don't think it applies in this case - unless this measure explicitly opens off-shore drilling then state law would be in force in the absence of Federal law.

OTOH I can imagine states having their eyes on the tax revenue possibilities.
Posted by: CrazyFool   2008-09-29 10:36  

#5  ...but only 50 or more miles out to sea and only if states agree.

The Nancy Pelosi plan to address gas shortages and long lines where there is gas.

I thought our territorial waters had a 12 mile limit. So why couldn't drilling occur at say 12.1 miles off our shores without any approval?
Posted by: JohnQC   2008-09-29 10:34  

#4  Lotsa state laws.

Federal laws supecede state always.
Posted by: Redneck Jim   2008-09-29 09:56  

#3  It's a start.
Posted by: DarthVader   2008-09-29 09:43  

#2  Lotsa state laws.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2008-09-29 07:19  

#1  Are there other obstacles?
Posted by: Richard of Oregon   2008-09-29 07:18  

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