Obama Closes Loophole That Allowed Drilling In Rockies Without Environmental Review

[Tx4obama]

Source: Associated Press via HuffPo

SALT LAKE CITY: The Obama administration will limit the use of an administrative shortcut that has been used to approve thousands of drilling permits across the Rocky Mountains without full environmental reviews.

The policy change was reflected in the settlement late Tuesday of a lawsuit filed in Utah by environmental groups that challenged the Bush administration's interpretation of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/31/rocky-mountain-drilling-l_n_520579.html

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Note: I used the front page headline from HuffPo for the OP since the other one was too long & didn't fit in the text box:
Rocky Mountain Drilling Lawsuit: Decision To Close Loophole That Allowed Feds To Bypass Environmental Review

[eleny]

1. thank goodness

k&r

[joeybee12]

2. Oh please, you make it sound like he actively did this...the adminsitration

decided to do this to settle a lawsuit brought against Bush, but would have continued against Obama.

[Tx4obama]

5. Huh?

The article says: ".... The government lawyers settled the case on behalf of Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. "

And Salazar works for Obama.
So, Obama wanted this settled and wanted the loophole closed so that the shortcut to approve drilling permits would NO LONGER be able to be used.

[SkyDaddy7]

7. WOW?

There are hard core haters on DU! They either complain about what he gets accomplished or they dismiss it.

Thank-you Texas!...And Thank you President Obama & Ken Salazar!



This sure beats secret meetings in Darth Vader's Office with Oil CEOs. Some folks will never be happy.

[Cha]

11. Glad I don't have to read that...it's the same ol

thing day after day month after month..etc...

[TheEuclideanOne]

13. I think that the rule is that he should only be recognized for

failures or things not accomplished. What kind of weirdo decided to actually give him credit for something that his administration did? Shocking! :sarcasm:

[SkyDaddy7]

14. I agree!

It takes time to make huge changes in the American politcal system...It was set up that way! Plus, many here on DU allowed the media to make them honestly believe that the Democratic Party actually had a "Super Majority" when that was never the case! Many of the Blue Dogs were elected in 2006 & 2008 from bright red districts so NOTHING could be done to strong arm them into towing the party line.

I know Obama fully understands this! You first have to change the direction even if it is only in small ways then build from there!

[Cha]

3. Thanks Texas..this is great

news!

[mvd]

4. K&R

Thanks for posting - makes me feel a little better.

[no1dolo]

6. Trust Him!

Obama does nothing without a long-sighted, well planned action card. He's a political genius. We're going to like this move in the end. I feel like I'm watching a football game in action. I don't know the play (this offshore drilling decision) but I bet it gets him to the goal line (improved overall environmental situation).

[Tx4obama]

8. One thing it does...

is that it is going to take YEARS for the 'studies' to be done before any drilling could be approved or denied.
So, this takes away the GOP & Palin's 'drill baby drill' talking points away from the next election ;)
p.s. I am not saying Obama made his decision due to gaining political points, but it will help him out :)

[aquart]

9. Help him out with election revenue, too.

Now that corporations can give as much as they please to whomever. Exxon muckymuck was on TV. Grinning from ear to ear.

[Cha]

10. Thanks, I feel the same.

[DesertDiamond]

12. OK, he gets points from me for this. I'm still not happy about other things, but for this, points.

[Scurrilous]

15. K & R

:thumbsup:

[optimator]

16. "enivironmental review" doesn't really mean much

when you have a corrupt Dept of Interior.