Obama freezes until 2017 the expansion of offshore drilling areas

Obama freezes until 2017 the expansion of offshore drilling areas

 

WASHINGTON – The administration of President Barack Obama said Wednesday his decision to freeze until at least 2017 the expansion of offshore drilling areas as a result of the spill of spring in the Gulf of Mexico.

The decision, announced by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, banned until 2017 the oil and gas development in areas where no drilling activity is currently authorized as the eastern Gulf of Mexico coast Central and southern Atlantic.

The Obama administration is making an about-face: it was announced on March 31, three weeks before the spill, the opening of new oil exploration areas off the coast, a "difficult" choice that the president had then defended the need to ensure energy independence of the United States.

Among the places affected were areas off the coast of Virginia (east) and new areas of the Gulf of Mexico (south), especially its eastern part, near the coast of Florida.

"We have seen our announcement in March initials (…) to direct our resources to areas where drilling permits are already in force," said Salazar.

In the Arctic, where only the company Shell has applied for authorization of offshore drilling in Alaska, oil production will be done with "the utmost precautions," said Salazar.

The freeze announced Wednesday is part of the operation for the Gulf of Mexico which was the scene of the worst oil spill in the history of the United States, triggered by the explosion of a platform operated by BP on April 20 south of Louisiana. The oil will continue in this area where dozens of platforms are in operation.

Some 4.9 million barrels of crude oil were spilled into the Gulf of Mexico until the summer, when the well flowed directly to the bottom of the sea.

Drilling permits already granted in this part of the Gulf will be "subjected to rigorous ecological analysis," but the drilling will be allowed, " said Salazar.

Reacting to the announcement, the Democratic senator from Florida (southeast), Bill Nelson, a fierce opponent of offshore drilling, welcomed the decision of the administration. "I am pleased that the White House listens to the people of Florida," he said, adding that drilling would ruin the economy of his state that relies on tourism.

The Democratic senator from New Jersey (east), Robert Menendez, also welcomed the decision, adding that a "permanent ban" on the Atlantic coast drilling was necessary.

But environmentalists with the Natural Resources Defense Council estimated that the decision did "not go far enough."

Republican Representative John Culberson of Texas (South) blasted the decision, saying it would "drive up energy prices, would reduce the economic recovery, and would send American jobs overseas."

Oil giant ExxonMobil has also condemned the announcement.

"This decision is very unfortunate and will eliminate the money that the government badly needs, prevent the increase of employment and increase dependence on imports," said Kenneth Cohen, head of public affairs group.

For Chevron, which said it was "disappointed" the decision is "a step in the wrong direction."

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