Thirteen oil companies allowed to resume some drilling

Source: AP

Monday, January 03, 2011, 4:16 PM

WASHINGTON -- Thirteen companies whose deepwater drilling activities were suspended last year may be able to resume drilling without detailed environmental reviews, the Obama administration said Monday.

The companies will be allowed to resume work at previously drilled wells, as long as they meet new policies and regulations, officials said.

"For those companies that were in the midst of operations at the time of the deepwater suspensions (last spring), today's notification is a significant step toward resuming their permitted activity," said Michael Bromwich, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement.

The 13 companies are ATP Oil & Gas Corp.; BHP Billiton Petroleum (GOM) Inc.; Chevron USA Inc.; Cobalt International Energy; ENI U.S. Operating Co. Inc.; Hess Corp.; Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Corp.; Marathon Oil Co.; Murphy Exploration & Production Co.-USA; Noble Energy Inc.; Shell Offshore Inc.; Statoil USA E & P Inc.; and Walter Oil & Gas Corp.


Read more: http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/thirteen_oil_companies_allowed.html

no contest.

This administration doesn't give a flying fuck. Nothing comes as a surprise anymore.

At least the oil companies must now get permission from the executive branch to drill. It's a start.

He sweet talks his base, while he gives all the goodies to Big Oil, corporations and Wall Street. Actions speak louder than words. I'll believe he's doing something good when I see it.