US says offshore oil drill to be deployed in Cuba is OK

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Wednesday, 01.11.12
US says offshore oil drill to be deployed in Cuba is OK
Plans for oil explorations off Cuba’s coast have created US concerns
by Juan O. Tamayo
[e-mail]

U.S. Coast Guard and environmental safety officials have inspected and OK’d an offshore oil drilling platform headed to Cuba, under an unusual arrangement designed to allay concerns about a possible spill that could foul the U.S. coastline.

The inspection of the Scarabeo-9 platform was completed Monday off the coast of the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago by personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE).

“The review is consistent with U.S. efforts to minimize the possibility of a major oil spill, which would hurt U.S. economic and environmental interests,” said a statement issued late Monday by the Interior Department.

Plans by the Spanish-based Repsol YPF oil company to use the platform to drill off Cuba’s northwestern shores, about 70 miles from the Florida Keys, have sparked U.S. concerns about a spill as well as the U.S. embargo’s impact on efforts to control any damages.

More:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/11/2583212/us-says-offshore-oil-drill-to.html

[octothorpe]

1. Are other counties allowed to inspect wells in our waters?

If so, then this is cool. If not, then that's kinda lame.

[Bacchus4.0]

2. well, here is an important part of the story from the article

To ease the worries, Repsol invited the U.S. inspectors to check out the platform before it arrives in Cuba and has promised to meet all U.S. requirements when it starts to drill, even though Scarabeo will be operating in Cuba’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/11/2583212/us-says-offshore-oil-drill-to.html#storylink=cpy

[octothorpe]

3. Ohhh...

That "reading" stuff... I feel stupid for not reading the entire article now (bad habit)

Still though, I wonder how it would be viewed if other countries raised concerns similar to the US concerns of this well.

[Bacchus4.0]

4. if a spill could adversely impact them, they should. its a valid concern n/t

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