Cartoon: Economics of the ban on drilling in VA

Interior Suspends VA Lease Sale

Big News today as the Department of Interior has indefinitely suspended plans for an oil and gas lease sale off the Virginia coastline. The department postponed the comment period on the plan indefinitely and canceled a series of public meetings that had been scheduled for this month on the proposed lease sale.

In a notice to be published in the Federal Register tomorrow, the Minerals Management Service announces the suspension of the comment period on the proposed Virginia lease sale, known formally as Outer Continental Shelf Mid-Atlantic Oil and Gas Lease Sale 220. No further comments are being solicited, pending a decision by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, it says.

Could this be a prelude to reinstating the federal moratorium on new offshore oil drilling?

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How Does an Oil Platform Accommodate Tons of Flaming Debris Falling on it?

The Eastern Shore Defense Alliance, a group of business and civic leaders from Virginia and Maryland who lobby on behalf of Wallops Flight Facility have serious concerns about the 2.9 million acre proposed drilling area off the coast of Virginia that falls within naval training grounds and the rocket launch range of NASA's Wallops Island.

"It's just not a prudent idea," to drill, said Steve Habeger, president of the alliance. "How does an oil platform accommodate tons of flaming debris falling on it?"

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Decisions Nearing; Oil Companies Lobbying; Fishermen Worried

NATIONAL

Interior Secretary Sees Offshore Leasing Plan in 30-45 Days
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20100219-713491.html?mod=WSJ_World_MIDDLEHeadlinesEurope

Salazar closes in on offshore drilling decision
http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/82385-salazar-closes-in-on-offshore-drilling-decision

CALIFORNIA

Oil company spending lavishly to get around Carpinteria law
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik21-2010feb21,0,3506662.column
This is proposed onshore drilling, but it affects coastal and offshore resources.

FLORIDA

Florida legislators consider lifting ban on offshore drilling
http://www.theolympian.com/2010/02/19/1144607/florida-legislators-consider-lifting.html

VIRGINIA

Va. Senate backs bill to send offshore-drilling cash to transportation, environment
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/state_regional_govtpolitics/article/DRILGAT22_20100222-130201/326049/
“What a difference a few days makes. Voting 21-19, the Virginia Senate today backed legislation earmarking cash from offshore oil and gas exploration for education, the environment and transportation. The Democrat-controlled Senate had rejected a similar bill earlier in the 2010 session, largely to send a message to Gov. Bob McDonnell to go public on his remedy to the state's fiscal crisis. The House bill passed this afternoon and the defeated Senate measure are largely symbolic measures. That's because it will be years, if ever, before Virginia sees royalties from offshore drilling.”

Uncertainty not worth spoiling coast
http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/opinion/columnists/article/uncertainty_not_worth_spoiling_coast/52592/

NORTHEAST

Tribes concerned about loss of fishing due to oil spills
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/2010/02/22/tribes-concerned-about-loss-of-fishing-d?blog=53
“After having been essentially excluded from the commercial fishery in Nova Scotia for some time, Aboriginal fishermen have seen a dramatic growth in their ranks in the past ten years and they are worried that this productive period could come to an abrupt end by the dangers posed by recent moves to approve oil and gas production on Georges Bank.”

Gearing Up for Hands Across the Sand in Florida; Virginia Senate Says 'Not So Fast' to Governor McDonnell

Florida

Florida beach towns plan protest against oil drilling
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1472187.html

Offshore oil drilling forum draws more than 125 on both sides of the issue (includes video)
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/feb/09/offshore-oil-drilling-florida-forum-naples-news/

SWFL leaders back and forth on offshore drilling
http://www.nbc-2.com/Global/story.asp?S=11959158

Florida Today Editorial: Hands Across the Sand (reefrelieffounders.com)
http://www.reefrelieffounders.com/drilling/2010/02/10/florida-today-editorial-hands-across-the-sand/

Hands Across The Sand Offshore Oil Drilling Protest (Eye on Miami)
http://eyeonmiami.blogspot.com/2010/02/hands-across-sand-offshore-oil-drilling.html


Virginia

State Senate defeats bill on offshore drilling
http://www2.wsls.com/sls/news/state_regional/govtpolitics/article/state_senate_defeats_bills_on_offshore_drilling_changing_budget_timeline/80421/
"There [was a] major setback today in the Virginia Senate for Gov. Bob McDonnell, with the Democratic majority defeating legislation endorsing offshore drilling for oil and gas..."

Offshore Oil - Bad Deals, Bans and Protests

California

Don't trade oil for parks
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_14352149

Oregon

Oregon House votes for 10-year ban on off-shore oil and gas drilling
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/oregon_house_votes_for_10-year.html

Florida

A 'human line in the sand'
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/opinion/columnists/a-human-line-in-the-sand-216473.html
“Floridians who don't want oil drilling as close as 3 miles head for the beaches this Saturday for the simplest demonstration ever.”
Also: Join hands to prevent Gulf drilling
http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100207/LETTERS/100209780?Title=Join-hands-to-prevent-Gulf-drilling
“Our goal is to persuade legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist to drop the folly of offshore oil drilling. All it takes is one accident -- one oil spill. It is just not worth the risk to our environment and coastal tourism industry.”
Also: Protest aims at oil drilling
http://keysnews.com/node/20676

Virginia

Virginia's misguided rush to drill offshore
http://www.dailypress.com/news/opinion/dp-op_drilling_0207feb07,0,6391655.story
“In the heated debate over offshore drilling, policymakers have […] largely ignored the coastal environment and economies that would be subjected to potential harm from new offshore drilling such as off Virginia's coast. […] It is disturbing that in their rush to drill, oil and gas drilling advocates in Virginia would oppose prudent studies on the impact of drilling on our precious Chesapeake Bay, our sensitive coastal wetlands, and our highly lucrative tourism and fishing industries that are completely dependent on clean beaches and healthy ocean waters.”

In Virginia, offshore drilling a bipartisan goal
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-drilling-virginia8-2010feb08,0,3211440.story
The space agency, which operates a launching facility on the Virginia shore, says drilling would pose a safety risk because of the rigs' proximity to where rocket components fall into the Atlantic."You'd think 50 miles out would not be a problem," NASA spokesman Keith Koehler said. "But for us, it is. It's right in the middle of our launch range."

Enviros Lobbying for Oil Drilling in CA? Oil for Roads in VA?

CALIFORNIA

Environmental groups battle over oil drilling
http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/01/environmental-groups-battle-each-other-over-oil/
“Critics question whether the terms of the agreement can be adequately enforced. They argue if California were to allow the first new drilling in state waters since 1968 to go forward, it would send a message to the federal government that the state is now receptive to opening new oil leases off its coast.”

FLORIDA

Off Shore Oil Drilling Symposium
http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/83312167.html
In a symposium held Monday a panel of eight experts from all over the nation gave their two cents. "Any time a resource is taken out of the sea bed, it has to be transported in some way and it's by pipelines. There could be a significant disruption of territorial displays," says Felicia Coleman, Director of FSU's Coastal and Marine Lab.

VIRGINIA

Offshore drilling-royalties plan advances
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/02/offshore-drillingroyalties-plan-advances

Rethinking Virginia Drilling; Both Florida Candidates Oppose Drilling

VIRGINIA

US Govt pushes any drilling off Virginia past 2011
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2610221420100126?type=marketsNews
“The Obama administration put that plan under review when it came into office, and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar says he will decide by this summer whether the prior Bush plan will go forward. However, the department's Minerals Management Service, which oversees offshore drilling, said the proposed Virginia leasing plan will be delayed. The department may still decide against any energy exploration in the area.”

McDonnell concerned about a new possible delay in offshore oil drilling http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/01/post_557.html
"Any delay beyond 2011 I would strongly oppose,'' McDonnell said. "A delay of a year in the lease means yet another delay in the revenue...I am dead serious about trying to make Virginia the energy capital of the East Coast. We have every God-given natural resource that a state could want to make that happen and a big piece of that goal of energy independence is offshore production of oil, gas and wind and we don't need federal government delays. We need cooperation."

Thank You, Interior Department: Oil Drilling Off Virginia Delayed Indefinitely
http://rootswire.org/content/thank-you-interior-department-oil-drilling-virginia-delayed-indefinitely

FLORIDA

Candidates for governor agree offshore oil drilling a threat
http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20100127/BREAKINGNEWS/100127021/Candidates-for-governor-agree-offshore-oil-drilling-a-threat
Also: http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100127/CAPITOLNEWS/100127012/Poll-shows-McCollum-ahead-of-Sink-in-race-for-governor
“Proposals to drill for oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico are also pending before the 2010 legislative session. Sink said she is totally opposed while McCollum said he thinks three to 10 miles from the coast is too close, and that he does not like what he's seen so far. "This is not a proposal for offshore drilling," said Sink. "This is a proposal for near-beach drilling." McCollum said, "I'm a huge skeptic" and that an oil spill "would just completely terrorize our beaches.””

Protect Florida’s Beaches with Hands Across the Sand (Audubon of Florida)
http://audubonoffloridanews.org/?p=3767
Also: Be a Part of "Hands Across the Sand" at Shell Point Beach
http://www.wakulla.com/Announcements/Community_Service/Be_a_Part_of_%22Hands_Across_the_Sand%22_at_Shell_Point_Beach_201001269423/

CALIFORNIA

More PXP Deal Fallout
http://www.calbuzz.com/2010/01/i-jerry-how-brown-campaign-will-be-run/
“After AP picked up our story last week on the once-secret offshore oil drilling agreement between PXP oil company and the Environmental Defense Center, Calbuzzer and campaign media consultant Don Ringe worked up an animated political cartoon featuring a monologue by “Mr. PXP” about the deal, which you can find here.
And special Calbuzz T-Ridge props to KQED’s John Myers, who closely questioned Schwarzmuscle about the issue at the governor’s Monday appearance at the Sacto Press Club and offers a smart take on the exchange on his blog at Capital Notes.
Two points worth noting here: a) As Myers reports, it’s interesting to see how breezily Arnold is in abandoning the notion of “principles” when the going gets tough; b) the governor clearly formulates the deal on T-Ridge as a “budget-driven” decision, not an energy vs. environment balancing act.
That is precisely the point that most concerns many environmental opponents of the deal: that California’s landmark environmental protections should be conditioned on the ebb and flow of the budget. In other words, any time Sacramento is in the red, just suspend the Coastal Sanctuary Act or AB 32 or local development guidelines and generate some fresh cash. Laissez les bons temps rouler.
The environmentalists who support the deal, like the EDC, do not agree with this fiscal argument of Arnold’s for the deal: to them T-Ridge has always been a pathway to end some offshore oil drilling permanently, essentially by horsetrading a lease to slant drill in state waters for a promise to decommission four operations in federal waters.
But: Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas.”

Promises of jobs, revenues from offshore drilling just don't add up (FL)
http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2010/jan/04/scott-maddox-promises-of-jobs-revenues-from-just/

A day at the beach (FL)
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100102/OPINION01/912319928/1017
Perhaps the only way to stop this headlong rush to drill is if enough Floridians stand up and say "no way!" Toward that end, a coalition of environmental, local government and business groups are organizing what amounts to a mass day at the beach this coming Feb. 13. The idea behind the "Hands across the sand" campaign is to try to line Florida beaches with drilling opponents. At 1:30 p.m., participants will "hold hands creating human lines in the sand protesting oil drilling in Florida's waters," according to organizers. "This is a simple, nonpartisan way for Floridians to join hands in an effort to protect our state's most important asset — our waterways and beaches," says Dave Rauschkolb, a Seaside business owner who came up with the idea. "Our goal is to convince legislators and Gov. Charlie Crist to drop the folly of offshore oil drilling." Would legislators take notice if tens of thousands of Floridians joined hands on Feb. 13 to protect Florida's beaches? We hope so, right now they only seem to be taking notice of Big Oil's money and influence.

McDonnell: no delay in offshore exploration (VA)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/local_state/story/260191.html
Also see http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=1853594

Those elusive oil royalties: It's far too early to get pumped up about the dubious rewards of offshore drilling (VA)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3749290

Moratorium on drilling in Oregon waters expires today (Jan 2)http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/moratorium_on_drilling_in_oreg.html

Three VA Gubernatorial Candidates Debate Oil Drilling

3 Candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in Virginia met for a final debate before the June 9 primary. Two opposed one in favor.


Candidates were asked whether they think oil drilling should be allowed off the coast of Virginia, now that federal law will allow it starting in 2011.

Deeds: "Energy independence is a matter of national and economic security. I don't believe any means towards achieving independence should be taken off the table until the science takes it off the table, and that includes offshore drilling. ... If we can see royalties and protect the environment, protect fisheries, naval operations and tourism, then we ought to drill for gas."

McAuliffe: "I've been consistent from the start of this campaign. There was bipartisan legislation passed, signed by Governor Kaine, supported by Governor Kaine, that said no oil drilling and limited exploration of natural gas. I said this from the beginning. This was a bill that Brian supported. It wasn't even a close vote. I support the legislation passed in a bipartisan way and supported by the governor."

Moran: "I do oppose offshore drilling. Right now the technology does not exist to distinguish between oil and gas. We also have a $1 billion tourism industry in Virginia, well, a billion dollars in Virginia Beach. We need to be concerned about those jobs. We are asked to pay millions of dollars to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. Also, the United States Navy opposes offshore drilling. Those are jobs. ... So there are a number of reasons to oppose offshore drilling."

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