Citing improvements in safety standards and regulations, the moratorium on deep water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico has been lifted, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said today. Drillers will be required to meet "the higher bar we have set," Salazar said, including written certifications by oil company executives that they have met all the safety rules. The thinking behind the new rules is that they would prevent another disastrous oil spill, but critics are displeased with the decision for various reasons: Some call the regulations "too onerous"; others say deep water drilling remains too risky and dangerous. The six-month moratorium was first put in place by President Obama during the wake of the BP oil spill, and was supposed to end on November 30. [Read the U.S. News op-ed debate on whether offshore oil drilling should be expanded.]
What do you think? Should the moratorium on deep water drilling in the Gulf be lifted? Take our poll and post your thoughts below.
Previously: Is Michelle Obama Really the World's Most Powerful Woman?
- Check out our editorial cartoons on the Gulf oil spill.
- See which members of Congress get the most money from the oil and gas industry.
- See photos of the Gulf oil spill disaster.
Reader Comments Read all comments (3)
Ger of ME 5:30PM October 17, 2010
Bob of TX 10:56AM October 15, 2010
R.L. Schaefer of CA 4:47PM October 12, 2010