My friends at ATR reminded me that last night, September 30th, at midnight, the bans that have been in effect since 1982 on domestic shale oil and outer continential shelf drilling expired.
Don’t throw a parade just yet, though.
ATR points out that in February of this year there were 487 leases issued in Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, which holds an estimated 15 billion barrels of oil, however – due to frivolous lawsuits – all 487 leases are delayed.
Also, there are 748 leases between two major seas in Alaska, the Chukchi and Beaufort, and exploration in every single lease was legally challenged in May of this year.
You may want to give your senator or congressman a call on this. And also feel free to give a shout out to congressional leaders Rep. Pelosi and Sen. Reid a call and tell them to pass expedited leasing, state profit sharing, and judicial review legislation. Here’s their info:
Sen Reid:
Reno, NV Office Contact:
Phone: 775-686-5750
Washington DC Contact:
Phone: 202-224-3542
Rep. Pelosi:
San Francisco, CA Office Contact:
Phone: (415) 556-4862
Washington, DC Office Contact :
Phone: (202) 225-4965
Tags: Alaska, bans, barrels, billion, continental shelf, domestic, drill here drill now, drilling, energy, expired, lawsuits, pay less, shale oil, shelf drilling
K-Lo just posted this, from Jim DeMint’s office:
We’ve just been alerted that despite House Democrats relenting on extending bans on offshore drilling and oil shale in the continuing resolution (CR) appropriations bill, Democrat Senate Leader Harry Reid has decided to sneak an extension of the oil shale ban through as Congress fights over the financial bailout. Oil shale in America’s West is estimated to hold be between 800 billion and 2 trillion barrels of oil — that is more than three times the proven oil reserves in Saudi Arabia alone.
Here is the text of Reid’s proposed new ban on oil shale, that he is trying to add as an amendment to the CR or move seperately as a “stimulus” package, or we should say an anti-stimulus package if this is included.
Sec 1602 continues ban on oil shale. The language follows:
SEC. 1602. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, including section 152 of division A of H.R. 2638 (110th Congress), the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, the terms and conditions contained in section 433 of division F of Public Law 110–161 shall remain in effect for the 19 fiscal year ending September 30, 2009.
It would be an insult to all Americans if Senate Democrats worked to bailout Wall Street while damaging our future prosperity by banning development of vast energy reserves in oil shale.
Tags: 1602, appropriations, ban, barrels, Democrats, Harry Reid, House, Jim DeMint, K-Lo, offshore drilling, Oil, shale, trillion
