The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration will today announce plans to resume deepwater drilling.
The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration will today announce plans to resume deepwater drilling: The Obama administration on Tuesday plans to announce that it is lifting the moratorium on deep-water oil drilling, after putting in place new rules intended to tighten safety.
President Obama imposed the moratorium after the blowout of a BP well in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20 led to the largest maritime oil spill in American history. But the White House has come under intense pressure from the industry and from regional officials and businesses that have complained about the economic impact.
"The process is coming to its natural end," Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, told reporters on Tuesday morning. "I believe the process will wrap up very soon." The Interior Department later sent reporters an e-mail announcing that it would hold a telephone news conference at 1 p.m. to discuss the resumption of deep-water drilling.
U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has been blocking the confirmation of Obama's nominee to the head the Office of Management and Budget until the moratorium is lifted.
Read the NYT story here.