When Will They Ever Learn?
McClatchy reports that Since spill, feds have given 27 waivers to oil companies in gulf
WASHINGTON — Since the Deepwater Horizon oil drilling rig exploded on April 20, the Obama administration has granted oil and gas companies at least 27 exemptions from doing in-depth environmental studies of oil exploration and production in the Gulf of Mexico.
The waivers were granted despite President Barack Obama’s vow that his administration would launch a “relentless response effort” to stop the leak and prevent more damage to the gulf. One of them was dated Friday — the day after Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said he was temporarily halting offshore drilling.
Minerals Management Service has some song and dance that these weren’t the final drilling permits, but just the start of the process. The process should start with oil companies running the numbers on the costs of what happens if there’s an accident. They should be aware of the costs at the beginning, and post a commensurate bond before a drill touches the sea floor.
After they have done all that, then MMS can tell them it will be a cold day in hell before they are allowed to drill in the Gulf of Mexico after the total screw-up we are now dealing with. Any politician who wants more drilling is going to have to provide a 100% certain way of shutting down a gushing underwater well in less than an hour before they suggest it.
