UPDATE 2-US to issue more flexible oil drilling moratorium

Source: Reuters

* Salazar says new drilling moratorium can be adjusted

* Drilling may be allowed in certain oil reservoirs

* New team to investigate misconduct by gov't, oil workers

(Adds details throughout)

By Tom Doggett and Ayesha Rascoe

WASHINGTON, June 23 (Reuters)

"The U.S. Department of the Interior will reissue a deepwater oil drilling ban that was
blocked by a federal judge, but will make it more flexible to possibly allow drilling in certain fields,
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told lawmakers on Wednesday.


A U.S. judge ruled on Tuesday against the six-month moratorium that President Barack Obama's administration imposed
on deepwater drilling after BP's (BP.L) massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.


Salazar told a Senate Appropriations subcommittee the new moratorium would be adjusted where appropriate and
include criteria detailing when the drilling ban will end. He did not provide more details on how the new moratorium would
get around the judge's ruling or when it would be released."

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2311685620100623

Just don't issue any new permits because safety concerns are not being adequately met.

This is a point that needs to be underscored: Gulf Oil drilling does not relieve the scarcity of resources here in the U.S. Nor help the economy anywhere near well enough.

BP is a FOREIGN oil company. Haven't seen them send me a check. Even Sarah Palin understood the wisdom of sending checks back home to Alaska residents...

I see BP's 20 billion fund to help Coastal victims as a freaking entitlement that should have been paid in the first place. Losing the Gulf Coast to offshore drilling is worse in many ways as the government saying "We're gonna let Big Oil borrow your wife and have their way with her".

Then returning her in a condition near death.

This wouldn't happen here in CA. But in the deep South? Politicians too corrupt, residents too dumb. Sad sad sad.