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| DoD Rains on Virginia's Plans for Offshore Drilling |
| 2010-05-19 |
| Drilling for oil and natural gas off the coast of Virginia could interfere with naval operations, a Defense Department review has concluded. Norfolk is home to the world's largest naval base. Dealing a further blow to Gov. Bob McDonnell's plan to drill off the coast to raise revenue for transportation, the review concludes that only 22 percent of the ocean bottom that Virginia has proposed for drilling should be open to unrestricted drilling. Seventy-two percent should bar all oil and gas activity, according to the report prepared by the deputy undersecretary of defense for readiness; the deputy undersecretary of defense for installations and environment; and the office of the director, operational test and evaluation. Six percent of the area could have some restrictions. Virginia was in line to become the first Atlantic state to allow drilling. McDonnell had hoped a lease sale in the 4,500-acre tract at least 50 miles off the coast could take place in 2012. He hoped to plow proceeds from the lease sale into transportation. But after the Gulf of Mexico spill, the Minerals Management Service postponed public hearings on the Virginia lease sale. Gotta see how 0 can best take advantage of this crisis. The General Assembly this year authorized the development of oil and natural gas 50 miles off the coast, but only after "taking into account the impact on affected localities, armed forces and the mid-Atlantic regional spaceport." |
| Posted by:Bobby |