Interior Dept. denies it has extended drilling freeze to shallow gulf waters!

[freddie mertz]

WTFFFF?????

Who is Running the Ship Over There?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/03/AR2010060302738.html?hpid=topnews


By Steven Mufson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, June 3, 2010; 3:05 PM

The Interior Department denied that it has extended a drilling freeze to shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, contradicting an e-mail written earlier Thursday by the Minerals Management Service's supervisor of field operations for the Gulf of Mexico.

An Interior Department spokesman said "shallow water drilling may continue as long as oil and gas operations satisfy the environmental and safety requirements Secretary Salazar outlined in his report to the President and have exploration plans that meet those requirements. There is no moratorium on shallow water drilling."

We are well and truly screwed.

On edit: fixed link.

[Cant trust em]

1. A lot of confusion in a department that is trying to play catch up.

This is what happens when people are scrambling retroactively to seem like they're being proactive.

[freddie mertz]

4. Another word for it is incompetence.

Trying to serve two masters (the corporation vs. the rest of the universe) can get you addled sometimes.

[ProSense]

2. WaPo left out the details in its original piece, and is still misreporting. There is a

reevaluation of shallow drilling projects in progress:

Kendra Barkoff, a spokeswoman for Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, denied that the administration was placing a hold on shallow-water drilling.

"There is a six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling," Barkoff said in an e-mail Thursday. "Shallow-water drilling may continue as long as oil and gas operations satisfy the environmental and safety requirements Secretary Salazar outlined in his report to the president and have exploration plans that meet those requirements. There is no moratorium on shallow water drilling."

Bob Abbey, the acting director of the Minerals Management Service, announced further restrictions for offshore drilling on Wednesday night.

Abbey, who took over the minerals agency last week after the forced resignation of its previous director Elizabeth Birnbaum, said operators will be required to submit additional information about potential risks and safety considerations before being allowed to drill. The rule applies even to those plans that have already been approved or received a waiver exempting them from detailed environmental scrutiny, Abbey said.

The new information must be submitted before any drilling of new wells begins, Abbey said, adding that the rule should ensure that tighter safety standards and better consideration of risks are incorporated into drilling plans.

link

Your link isn't working.

[freddie mertz]

5. Are you saying the first report was incorrect then?

PS: Fixed link.

[ProSense]

7. Yes

It reported the e-mail, but left out the clarification, which was in the AP report.

[freddie mertz]

8. So the e-mail was misleading, right? nt.

Having read it, it seemed very straightforward.

[ProSense]

10. I haven't read it either, but

here is the additional information.

[freddie mertz]

11. Still seems like a reversal took place somewhere.

I wonder if this might reflect some disorganization and perhaps, even some behind-the-scenes conflict at Interior.

[KansDem]

3. Amazing, isn't it?

It's the ol' "Who's on First?" routine elevated to the federal level...

And what of the US Coast Guard? In recent "news reports," it's been acting like BP's spokesperson...

[DrDan]

6. this department is a joke - they seem to have no clue as to what the policy is

[Tarheel_Dem]

12. It couldn't possibly be that reporters run off half cocked to feed the 24/7 media beast, could it?

With the volume of stuff posted here, from competing sources , from whatever angle they choose to report, how the hell is anyone supposed to make an educated decision?

[Bluebear]

9. Who does this Interior Department report to, anybody?

[saracat]

13. Salazar has got to go. But somehow he gets handed the escapist route so common these days.

Nothing is anyone's fault and "blame Bush" has become the new "blame Clinton" At what point does the Interior Sec take the blame for the actions of his dept? He "Knew" because it was publicized about all the Bushies transferred to permanent positions and all the scandal.Yet, he has done nothing.He "talked" about it over a year ago and still nada.

[chill_wind]

14. More, freddie. Permits issued only yesterday, rescinded today

without explanation, according to the companies.

Re: shallow water drilling-- it's not a moratorium. We're calling it a suspension.
A "pulling back".

A long bad day at The Department of The Interior.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x8481583

[TheKentuckian]

15. I don't care what anyone else believes but I think they got shot down by a Howitzer

and had to back peddle on this shit.