Democratic representative Kathy Castor questions lifting of oil ban.

[madfloridian]

Kathy Castor expresses doubt on administration's plan to lift oil drilling ban

Tampa Democrat Kathy Castor doesn't sound convinced about the administration's plan to lift the deepwater offshore oil drilling ban: "While the Obama Administration has improved safety requirements and oversight of Gulf of Mexico deepwater drilling, I am not satisfied that oil companies have the ability to respond to disasters like BP’s Deepwater Horizon catastrophe or that the Administration has proactively disavowed its March 2010 announcement to consider allowing rigs to operate closer to Florida's west coast beaches.

"Secretary Salazar’s announcement today is no guarantee that an accident will never occur and therefore we must remain vigilant in the face of the Secretary's March 2010 announcement to consider opening additional waters off of Florida's west coast to oil drilling.

"Secretary Salazar has stated there has been 'significant progress' in reforms for drilling and workplace safety. However, both he and Director Bromwich say 'more needs to be done.'

More on the lifting of the ban today from the NYT.

White House Lifts Ban on Deepwater Oil Drilling

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration lifted its moratorium on deepwater drilling for oil and gas on Tuesday, after imposing new rules intended to prevent another disaster like the Gulf of Mexico rig explosion that led to the largest offshore oil spill in American history.

“We have made and continue to make significant progress in reducing the risks associated with deepwater drilling,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in announcing the step. Therefore, he said, “I have decided that it is now appropriate to lift the suspension on deepwater drilling for those operators that are able to clear the higher bar that we have set.”

Though the administration’s decision takes effect immediately, it may be weeks or months before drilling operations resume, because companies will first have to submit new permit applications showing they have complied with the tougher rules, and have their rigs inspected. Officials said that they expect at least some of the idle drilling rigs in the gulf to be at work again by the end of the year.

“We are open for business,” Mr. Salazar said.

Charlie Crist also criticized the decision.

Charlie Crist pans decision to lift the drilling ban

From the governor's office: "As long as Gulf Coast residents and businesses are struggling with the claims process and being made whole, the drilling moratorium should not be lifted. Without a thorough
investigation of what exactly caused the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, any drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is a job killer for Florida, not a job creator.

"Even though oil spilled far from Florida’s shores, our tourism and seafood industries received an economic blow. We simply cannot afford another spill. Florida is a tourism state, not an oil state, and Floridians deserve to have the opportunity to choose whether we allow drilling off our beautiful beaches, by way of a constitutional amendment."

I agree with Charlie Crist and Kathy Castor.

[madfloridian]

1. Kick for Castor and Crist