Will the ban on drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf be lifted by June, 2009?

The background for this question is biased, although many people are misled to commonly believe these things.

There have never been large scale environmental disasters anywhere that were caused by drilling. In fact, drilling close to home is good for the environment. The majority of environmental disasters are caused by spills, and tankers that carry oil long distances increase the risk of another environmental disaster.

Drilling closer to home means less exposure to that risk, in addition to a supply that would be less dependant on a politically volatile part of the world.

"While the drilling may cheapen gas it wouldn't solve the fundamental problem the nation faces, getting off of oil. "

I like oil. It's in my car, in my food, in most of the products I use and enjoy. I don't want off oil, I want more

"But even if lawmakers acted tomorrow, it would be years before the infrastructure could be put in place to support additional drilling."

Exactly! All the more reason to get busy NOW! We should have fixed this decades ago.

How about these points:

"Even if we taught a kid to read tomorrow, it would be YEARS before he graduated..."
"Even if we started a space program tomorrow, it would be years before we reached the moon..."
"Even if we declare independance on July 4, 1776, it would be years before we defeat the British..."
... and so forth, for EVERY major milestone in life or the history of this country.

Total agreement with all above comments. Thank God there is still some sanity in this world! We're in the fix we're in because "let's only do what helps right now" crowd have had their way for 30 years.

On NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, the speaker (Nancy Pelosi) twice seemed to suggest that natural gas – an energy source she favors – is not a fossil fuel.
“I believe in natural gas as a clean, cheap alternative to fossil fuels,” she said at one point. Natural gas “is cheap, abundant and clean compared to fossil fuels,” she said at another.
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/08/25/fuel-for-debate-pelosi-suggests-natural-gas-isnt-a-fossil-fuel/

too funny!

House to vote on drilling this week: Pelosi
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080909/pl_nm/usa_energy_congress_dc

@Erik: great news! the article even says that it will "repeal some tax cuts for the oil industry." Let's hope it passes!

God I hope so.

Funny that it's only politicians that spew crap about drilling taking so long. Oil companies tap oil in as little as a year when the conditions are right. Glad to hear the speaker of the house is about to give democracy a chance.

Without getting into too much of a flame war -- This argument came up 10 years ago and our president did not allow drilling because benefits would be a decade away.

Welcome to the now!

one can only dream....

The clock is ticking on the congressional moratorium on access to billions of barrels of domestic oil beneath American waters. President Bush already rescinded the White House prohibitions on access to this energy, so the congressional restrictions are the only thing standing between 19 billion barrels of additional domestic oil and the citizens who need it. If Congress does not act to renew these outdated, anti-energy, and anti-consumer restrictions, these areas will be opened to exploration and drilling beginning on October 1.

http://www.heritage.org/research/energyandenvironment/wm2016.cfm

Actually, if congress did nothing to act the ban would be lifted on Oct 1 as that's when it runs out. Last night the house did vote to permit drilling, but it depends on what states say about it and limits it to 50 miles off shore. Senate has less than 2 weeks.

Be interesting to see where Joe Bama and McSame come down on this.

When it comes to oil, reducing demand is better than increasing supply.

well said, lola
I'm confident that most americans see it this way which is way this question settled "no"
http://www.hubdub.com/m9649/Will_Drill_Here_Drill_Now_petition_reach_2_million_signatures_by_7152008

the house bill has very little chance of getting through the senate. the house bill was a cover for dems in the up coming election. dick durbin (a dem) said the house bill won't pass. so lets say the senate passes a bill. it won't pass the house. that leaves us with rbrog77's point. they won't pass anything togeather so the ban is lifted. crossing my fingers that will happen.

@kruijs..most americans favor more drilling. that one website doesn't mean nothing. how many americans knew about it? obama wants to mandate conservation to reduce oil consumption. you want a politician telling you how much engery you can or can't use?

"most americans favor more drilling" really? How do you know?

To answer your question:
Why are you restricted by a speed limit on highways? Didn't the politicians stop you from driving as fast as you want there?
Extreme example: Didn't they make a law which tells us killing people ain't allowed? Do you want a politician telling you how much people you can or cannot kill?

Politicians make laws. Politicians are telling us all along what we are allowed and what not.
It's their duty to protect people from doing stupid things, harm each other, and therefor to impose restrictions.

It's their job.

@kruijs: Most Americans do favor drilling... that is why the congress put this fake bill through, so that it could appear they wanted to do something about it, and still comply with their bit money donors, who do not want any drilling. They are hoping most Americans do not find out the details about the bill, so they can improve their current lowest approval rating ever.

About the other points:
Speed limits are random. There are places with no posted speed limits. People are (and should be) responsible for their own actions. Laws do not tell us it is wrong to kill people - our own morals tell us that. Laws just give enforcement and justice departments something they can do when it happens, but I personally (and I trust most here on Hubdub) do not refrain from killing people simply because it is illegal!

Politicians make laws - many of the laws are redundant, confusing, or contradict themselves. Laws do not give moral clarity to people - in fact most people are unaware of most of the laws on the books. We make wise decisions because we are capable of it on our own.

It's our job. :-)

And there, in a nutshell, is the basic differance between politically liberal and conservative.
*It's their job
*It's our job

@kruijs..living in the USA i see the polls all saying the people want more drilling. can i prove that...no i can't. its not the politicans job to tell me how much engery i can or can't use. if i wanna keep my house at 80 thats my right. i don't want them telling me i have to keep it at 70 to save engery. your example of murdering people is way out there..no comment on that. the less govt does the better imho. you want the govt protecting you by making "laws" to tell you how to conduct your life thats your right. i tend to prefer to run my life the way i see fit.

They are lifting the federal ban, but I don't see Florida and California lifting the state ban....being from Louisiana, I can attest to the "browning" of the water and beaches by the oil industry, but our beaches were never tourist havens....Plus the earthquakes off California would probably play a large part in the decision making....Wahington and Oregon would certainly not want drilling off of their pristine shores..... this issue is a distraction from the real issues in this election...

@tocm...you don't think oil and oil drilling are an issue in this election?

No, I'm saying that the right is making it an issue, when they really have no authority when it comes to the states' rights to ban offshore drilling in their state... We have an addiction to oil, and you don't cure an addict by giving him easier access to his drug of choice. If Florida allowed drilling off of it's coast, it would take only one mishap to ruin hundreds of miles of beaches: bye bye tourism, bye bye deep sea fishing.

well you'll be happy to know the bill the house passed that lifted the ban,(100 miles or further off shore b4 you can drill)doesn't give the states any royalities from the oil produced. so that makes it even less likely the states will be in a hurry to lift their bans. the house bill was a shame..it won't become law.

@theonecalledmichael: I was just thinking about this - it is like congress wants to bring back prohibition days, only this time with oil. your addiction parallel was interesting - great minds think alike!

I will say though, that there are beaches out in California that would be improved if they would drill. There is natural seepage coming through the sand & if they would only drill, that would go away.

From MSNBC - The House late Tuesday approved on a 236-189 vote legislation that would open waters 50 miles off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts to oil and natural gas development — if the adjacent states agree to go along.

The legislation now goes to the Senate, where Democratic leaders are expected to mold it to their liking in the next few days.

Looks like some form of lifting is on it's way.

Wooo Hooo!!! - Arnold S (I can't spell his last name) could balance his budget and contribute to our energy needs.

@fof Swartzaniger? Swaurtsanigger? Suartzaniiger?
@all I wonder what terms the democrats will try to add on to this deal. Higher taxes and lots of restrictions on environmental effects would be my guess.

notice the 50 miles off shore. thats to cover the dems in the election. all the oil is inside the 50 mile zone. this way the dems can say they voted for more drilling...knowing full well no drilling will take place.

looks like dueling reports.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,426764,00.html



Democrats to Let Offshore Drilling Ban Expire, Conceding Defeat in Battle With GOP
WASHINGTON — Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer.

Settlement time

diesl> not conflicting at all. If you read further, you'll find that the Dems have realized that their bill won't go thru:
"Democrats had clung to the hope of only a partial repeal of the drilling moratorium, but the White House had promised a veto, Obey said."
""The White House has made it clear they will not accept anything with a drilling moratorium, and Democrats know we cannot afford to shut down the government over this," said Jim Manley, a spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid."

"Democrats to let offshore drilling ban expire"
By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 27 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democrats have decided to allow a quarter-century ban on drilling for oil off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to expire next week, conceding defeat in a months-long battle with the White House and Republicans set off by $4 a gallon gasoline prices this summer.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080924/ap_on_go_co/offshore_drilling

@erik..i ment conflicting as in rb's link to the one i posted. as far as settling it might be wise to wait. Boehner said (in link i posted) "If true, this capitulation by Democrats following months of Republican pressure is a big victory for Americans struggling with record gasoline prices," said House GOP leader John Boehner of Ohio." ya never know what congress will do. i think its 99% likely to be lifted.

Thing is even after the congressional moritorium is lifted oil companies have to deal with state bans.

These wishy washy senators. I think that after they realize there thin shams arent working there going to choose votes over principles and lift this stupid ban

what did Sinatra say ,,,,,i did it my way lol

Drill and take it out. That is why it is in there. You can't write a blog about pollution, Fat Cats or starvation without power. Buying things from people who want us dead is cooperating with them.

When I move to a country I could jog across in 2 days or has zero natural resources my outlook may change. If you own anything from IKEA you are a timber and oil hog. If you use public transportation or big electric things you are burning fossil.

It's a done deal:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080927/ap_on_go_co/congress_spending_9

thats good. Maybe now we can cut off those damn terrorists from a major income supply.