Coastal Lawmakers Want End To “De Facto” Moratorium On Gulf Drilling

Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) are leading a charge to urge the U.S. Department of the Interior to issue drilling permits faster to oil companies in the Gulf of Mexico. 

According to information released by Hutchinson’s office, 12 rigs have left the Gulf because of the delays in permits, affecting an industry that produces more than 400,000 jobs. Hutchinson and eight others in the Senate signed onto a resolution calling the delay in issuing permits a “de facto” moratorium of its own.

After the BP oil spill in the Gulf, the Obama administration imposed a six-month moratorium on deep water drilling, which was then lifted on October 12, 2010. Though not subject to the moratorium, shallow water drilling operations were held to higher standards after June 8, 2010.  

Since the new regulations were put in place, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has issued 31 new permits for shallow water activities. Two permits have been issued for deepwater drilling since the moratorium was ended.

The list of others who signed the letter include Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).