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• ASME recognizes 1st floating offshore drilling rig

  March 12, 2012 7:24 AM

  MORGAN CITY, La. (AP) - An international society of engineers is naming the nation's first floating offshore oil drilling rig a historic mechanical engineering landmark. ASME will hold the ceremony on Saturday at the rig Mr. Charlie in Morgan City, where it is now a museum and training facility. Mr.... more »

• Casinos raise questions on offshore drilling

  February 10, 2012 10:49 AM

  GULFPORT, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi casino operators say they trust state leaders that exploration and drilling would be low-key for natural gas and out of sight of most of the mainland. However, the operators say in a letter to the Mississippi Development Authority, that they don't want tourist areas overrun... more »

• Reps. Landry & Boustany Disagree Over Proposed Offshore Safety Reforms Play Video

  December 6, 2011 12:05 AM

  The United States Senate is considering a bill, which involves offshore safety reforms proposed by Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia. In the wake of recent fatalities offshore, most will agree safety should be a priority in the Gulf, but not everyone is onboard with Landry's ideas. H.R. 2838, also... more »

• Senate Blocks GOP Bid to Speed Offshore Drilling

  May 19, 2011 6:07 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate has rejected a GOP bid to speed up and expand offshore oil drilling in the face of $4-a-gallon gasoline prices. A procedural vote failed Wednesday, 57-42, on a GOP bid to speed decision-making on drilling permits and force the government to conduct previously scheduled lease... more »

• Obama: No Offshore Drilling in East Coast Waters

  December 1, 2010 12:23 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - In a reversal, the Obama administration says it will not pursue offshore drilling in East Coast waters, including the eastern Gulf of Mexico. A senior administration official said on Wednesday that because of the BP oil spill, the Interior Department will not propose any new oil drilling... more »

• Secretary Salazar Visits Houma

  November 22, 2010 7:22 PM

  State lawmakers and industry officials were hopeful going into Monday's meeting with U.S. Interior Secretary Salazar. U.S. Congressman of Louisiana's third congressional district, Jeff Landry, said "we were anticipating that we were going to see some final relief in the permitting process." President of the Louisiana Oil and... more »

• Judge Closes Hearing on Offshore Drilling Permits

  November 9, 2010 11:32 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal judge on Tuesday barred news organizations from a conference over a company's claim that the government has not yet issued a single permit to allow offshore drilling even though a moratorium was lifted in October. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman said the hearing would... more »

• Offshore Drilling Rigs Required to Certify They Have Working Blowout Preventers

  September 30, 2010 12:22 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration has announced new rules requiring that offshore drilling rigs certify that they have working blowout preventers and standards for cementing wells. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Thursday that the new rules will improve safety and reduce the chance of catastrophic blowouts such as the... more »

• New Offshore Drilling Rules to Be Announced

  September 30, 2010 11:28 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is set to release new rules for offshore oil drillers as it prepares to lift a ban on deepwater drilling. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to announce the new rules, including some that address workplace safety, at a speech on Thursday. The rules... more »

• Offshore Drilling Agency to Weigh in Ahead of Schedule on Moratorium

  September 27, 2010 4:30 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The government agency in charge of offshore drilling will weigh in ahead of schedule on whether a ban on new deepwater wells should be lifted. The chief of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Michael Bromwich, told an investigative panel Monday that he is a month ahead... more »

• Lieutenant Governor Testifies at Forum on Offshore Drilling

  September 13, 2010 7:16 PM

  The Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Micheal Bromwich, spent the day talking to oil spill experts in Lafayette. The forum was one of eight held in cities throughout the Gulf Coast to evaluate the current state of offshore drilling and to come up... more »

• Offshore Drilling First-Ever Ethics Policy

  August 31, 2010 4:20 PM

  WASHINGTON -- Scandalized by U.S. regulators who had sex with oil company executives and negotiated with them for jobs, the agency that oversees offshore drilling is imposing a first-ever ethics policy that bars inspectors from dealing with a company that employs a family member or personal friend. Michael Bromwich,... more »

• Amendment Would Ban Companies With Significant Violations Offshore Drilling Permits

  July 14, 2010 3:51 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - A House committee wants to put BP in a penalty box of sorts. The Natural Resources Committee approved an amendment Wednesday that would ban companies with significant workplace safety or environmental violations over the preceding seven years from new offshore drilling permits. The California Democrat who sponsored... more »

• New Moratorium On Deep-Water Offshore Drilling

  July 12, 2010 5:00 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is issuing a new moratorium on deep-water offshore drilling and it's no longer based on water depth. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar made the announcement Monday, arguing that a pause is still needed to ensure that oil and gas companies implement safety measures to reduce... more »

• Ban On Offshore Drilling In Florida Waters On November Ballot

  July 8, 2010 5:35 PM

  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Gov. Charlie Crist has called a special session of the state Legislature to get a constitutional ban on offshore oil drilling in Florida waters on the November ballot. Crist on Thursday said the session will be held July 20 to July 23. Crist has said he... more »

• Overhaul Of Agency That Regulates Offshore Drilling

  May 18, 2010 11:57 AM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Interior Secretary Ken Salazar conceded Tuesday that the government failed to hold the oil industry accountable and ensure safety in offshore oil drilling. Salazar, in his first appearance before Congress since the April 20 Gulf accident, promised an overhaul of the agency that regulates offshore oil drilling... more »

• Review of Environmental Procedures For Offshore Drilling

  May 14, 2010 1:10 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Review of Environmental Procedures For Offshore Drilling Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Friday the review is part of the administration's efforts to tighten oversight of the minerals agency following the catastrophic Gulf Coast oil spill. The review will focus on whether the agency is following all environmental... more »

• Proposal: Split Agency That Oversees Offshore Drilling

  May 11, 2010 3:35 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Obama administration is proposing to split up an Interior Department agency that oversees offshore drilling, as part of its response to the Gulf Coast oil spill. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar called for a plan to split the Minerals Management Service in two. One agency would be... more »

• Not Giving Up Plans to Expand Offshore Drilling

  April 23, 2010 4:02 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - White House spokesman Robert Gibbs says the explosion at an oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico is no reason to give up plans to expand offshore drilling. Gibbs says President Barack Obama continues to believe that the United States needs a comprehensive solution to its energy... more »