News - National
Interior Secretary Salazar lifts oil drilling moratorium
Posted: Oct 12, 2010 11:35 AM by Greg Boyce
Citing "significant process" in the safety of future drilling operations, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar ha lifted the deep water drilling moratorium. This affects rigs drilling in 500 feet of water or more. Each company will have to certify that it has complied with all safety rules and regulations. Each operator will have to containment resources available in the event of a blowout.
The administration has been under heavy pressure from the industry, regional officials, political leaders and businesses to lift the moratorium on grounds it has thrown workers off their jobs and damaged the economy. A federal report said the moratorium likely caused a temporary loss of up to 12,000 jobs in the Gulf region.
Salazar is in Pueblo participating in the grand opening of a Vestas plant. That facility manufacturers towers for giant wind turbines.
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