A Bush administration nudge toward opening waters off Virginia for oil and gas leasing is rankling environmentalists, who have begun lobbying President-elect Barack Obama to reinstate an offshore drilling ban lifted by President George W. Bush last summer.

Reinstating the offshore drilling ban would remove the oil drilling debate as a stand alone issue and give Obama leverage to have a more comprehensive debate about energy policy.

If you live or surf on the Outer Banks you should read this!

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VA, NC, MD, DE, NJ - Do You Want Offshore Oil Drilling?

Public Can Voice Opinions on Oil Drilling off Virginia

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/179/story/315302.html

Offshore drilling for oil in the Atlantic Ocean could happen within 100 miles of New Jersey (and much closer to Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and North Carolina) after the Department of the Interior this week initiated an oil and gas leasing process off the coast of Virginia.

A 45-day window for public comment opened Thursday on the environmental impact of leasing the offshore area for drilling, as well as for general comments and concerns.

The department's Minerals Management Service took the first step in opening waters off the coast of Virginia to offshore drilling for oil. President George W. Bush lifted the ban on offshore drilling in many states in July. Congress allowed the annual moratorium to expire at the end of September.

The mid-Atlantic area has not had a lease sale since 1983, according to a statement from MMS. "This is the first step in a multistep leasing process," MMS spokeswoman Eileen Angelico said. "By putting out this call (for comments), this is not putting out a lease." Angelico said several opportunities for public comment are built into the leasing schedule. When the administration changes in 2009, the new secretary of the interior may choose to drop the leasing process.

Even with a change of administration only a couple of months away, environmental groups are expressing their concern and outrage over the possibility of offshore drilling.

The public comment period ends Dec. 29.

To comment:
For more information about the lease and for mailing information to register a public comment, visit:
www.mms.gov/offshore/220.htm
Public comments can also be e-mailed to sale220@mms.gov.

MMS Initiates Oil and Gas Leasing Process for Offshore Virginia

MMS Initiates Oil and Gas Leasing Process for Offshore Virginia
Initial information-gathering steps begin for proposed Sale 220

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has taken the first step in the multi-year leasing process to hold a sale for acreage offshore Virginia. The Call for Information and Interest/Nominations and Notice of Intent (Call/NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be published in the November 13th Federal Register, beginning a 45-day public comment period.

The purpose of the Call/NOI is to gather information to use for planning and analysis and does not indicate a preliminary decision to hold a lease sale.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Congressional Affairs at (202) 208-3502.

Lesley Kilp Haenny
Office of Congressional Affairs
Minerals Management Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
T: (202) 208-6098
F: (202) 208-3968

Read Washington Post article here.

Maybe It's Time to Re-think Things

Post election quote from David Frum, a former Bush White House speechwriter:

“In the eyes of many college-educated white people, the people who Bush got in 2004 and whom the Republicans owned in the 1980s, the Republican Party has become a party of culture war. It's the party of 'drill, baby, drill,' (and) no environmental agenda.”

Kill the Spill 1-Year Anniversary

Photo: Marcus Sanders



One Year After the Oil Spill: What Has Changed?


Find out what's being done to prevent another disaster from polluting the Bay


Jared Huffman, California State Assembly, 6th District
Sejal Choksi, Baykeeper and Program Director, San Francisco Baykeeper
Chris Godley, Manager of Emergency Services, Marin County Sheriff Office of Emergency Services
David Lewis, Executive Director, Save the Bay - Moderator

Last November's Cosco Busan oil spill exposed many gaps in existing laws and policies governing oil-spill response in California. Come learn about what changes have been made, how prepared we are for another oil spill in the Bay, and what reforms still need to be made.


Location: Commonwealth Club, San Francisco
Time: 11:30 a.m. check-in, noon program
Cost: CLUB/BAYKEEPER MEMBERS FREE, $15 non-members
Program Organizer: Kerry Curtis
Also know: In association with San Francisco Baykeeper and Save the Bay

Find about how to get tickets here

Photos from the spill

The Fuel Film

Check it out

a dramatic collapse in oil prices

Oil is down to $63 a barrel, the lowest since May 2007. Oil prices have been more than halved since peaking at $147 a barrel in July.

Because the growth in global oil demand has slowed sharply in recent months, OPEC fears that the world will face a huge oversupply next year.

Does anyone still think that our 3% of the world supply is going to have a significant impact on oil prices?

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