Obama Administration Cancels Oil-Drilling Leases

[BPSCG]

Looks like our energy problems must at long last be over.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is cancelling oil and gas leases on 77 parcels of federal land in Utah, according to sources familiar with the decision, ending a fierce battle over whether to allow energy exploration in the environmentally-sensitive area.

The Bush administration conducted the lease sale in December, but environmental groups went to court to block the winning bids encompassing roughly 110,000 acres near pristine areas such as Nine Mile Canyon, Arches National Park and Dinosaur National Monument.

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020401785.html?hpid=topnews)

Notice the leases were on land near these "pristine areas," not actually on them.

"Pristine area" = any place the government lets vultures and snakes live, but not people.

[J. Wellington Wimpy]

Looks like our energy problems must at long last be over.

Free unicorn rides for everyone, all weekend long! WHEEEEEEEEE -- !!!;)

[Corsair 115]

Canada will be happy to sell the United States even more petroleum. Provided, of course, you don't cancel NAFTA or otherwise start a trade war.

[Lonewulf]

Yay rhetoric.

[Puppycow]

Looks like our energy problems must at long last be over.
Yep. (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_home_page.html)
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/wrgp/mogas_chart.gif

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020401785.html?hpid=topnews)

Notice the leases were on land near these "pristine areas," not actually on them.

"Pristine area" = any place the government lets vultures and snakes live, but not people.
Don't you want to keep America beautiful?
I want there to be places where people aren't allowed to live.
I want there to be places where there is natural wilderness left in its natural state. :D

[peptoabysmal]

Well, yeah.
Obama wants his Muslim bretheren to control all of the oil, of course. :D

j/k
:boxedin:

[Dr Adequate]

Well, yeah.
Obama wants his Muslim bretheren to control all of the oil, of course. :D

j/k
:boxedin: I heard he was half-Canadian ...

[BPSCG]

Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020403174.html)
In recent days, there have been misguided criticisms of this plan that echo the failed theories that helped lead us into this crisis — the notion that tax cuts alone will solve all our problems;Straw man. Who said that?

that we can meet our enormous tests with half-steps and piecemeal measures; that we can ignore fundamental challenges such as energy independence and the high cost of health care and still expect our economy and our country to thrive.

I reject these theories, and so did the American people when they went to the polls in November and voted resoundingly for change. They know that we have tried it those ways for too long. And because we have, our health-care costs still rise faster than inflation. Our dependence on foreign oil still threatens our economy and our security. So the solution to that is to put more land off-limits to drilling.

Maybe we should start closing hospitals as a way to address our health-care needs...

Our children still study in schools that put them at a disadvantage. We've seen the tragic consequences when our bridges crumble and our levees fail.Bridges? You wouldn't mean the famous one in Minneapolis, would you? The one that failed not because of our infrastructure - sorry, crumbling infrastructure - problems, but because of a design defect?

Dishonest in so many ways.

[lupus_in_fabula]

Ah yes, I remember this case from Democracy Now's report (http://www.democracynow.org/2008/12/22/posing_as_a_bidder_utah_student) about an activist disrupting the auction in December. I think his action postponed the final decision, due to some sort of uncertainty about the prizes affected, which ultimately put it out of hands from the Bush administration.

Although this report seems to suggest that the leases weren't awarded because a federal judge blocked them. According to AP (in Forbes (http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/01/21/ap5948089.html)):[Judge]Urbina said the U.S. Bureau of Land Management failed to do a sufficient environmental analysis for drilling on wild lands and no analysis at all of how air pollution might worsen around Arches and Canyonlands national parks. It also seems that some environmental folks weren't that happy either: "BLM's attempt to sell these leases just before the Bush administration left office has been showcased for what it really is - a parting gift to the oil and gas industry," said Stephen Bloch, a staff lawyer for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. Well, now it's settled... and Bush & Oil vs. Robert Redford & Environment: 0 – 1! :yahoo

[Cleon]

"Pristine area" = any place the government lets vultures and snakes live, but not people.

Odd. I've never heard the word "pristine" applied to Washington, DC.

[BPSCG]

Odd. I've never heard the word "pristine" applied to Washington, DC.So, uhm, you're saying headscratcher4 is:


A snake?
A vulture?

I've certainly had my disagreements with the man, but this is way over the line, Cleon. You should report yourself. :rolleyes:

[BPSCG]

Bush & Oil vs. Robert Redford & Environment: 0 – 1! :yahooMore like, Interior Secretary Salazar 1, President Obama 0.

Couple that with the fact that some unknown person in President Obama's administration this week shot down his (and his secretary of state's) preference for ambassador to Iraq, and you start to wonder who speaks for the Obama administration.

[ponderingturtle]

Notice the leases were on land near these "pristine areas," not actually on them.

"Pristine area" = any place the government lets vultures and snakes live, but not people.

I have two really good energy programs. We damn the grand cannion and use yellowstone for geothermal. Sell of those useless things.

[BPSCG]

I have two really good energy programs. We damn the grand cannion I have an even better idea. How about damming the river that runs through the Grand Canyon (http://www.doi.gov/issues/colorado.html)?

[cwalner]

I have two really good energy programs. We damn the grand cannion and use yellowstone for geothermal. Sell of those useless things.

just curious PT, which diety would you invoke to damn the grand cannion. I might suggest it would be easier to instead dam the grand canyon or at least the river that runs through it (as BPSCG already pointed out)

[lupus_in_fabula]

More like, Interior Secretary Salazar 1, President Obama 0. Nope, I don't think so. Here's what Salazar had to say (emphasis mine): ...in its lasts weeks in office the Bush administration rushed ahead to sell gas and oil leases at the doorstep of some of our nations icons, some of our nations most treasured landscapes, and did so particularly in Utah … President Obama and I believe strongly that we need to responsibly develop our oil and gas supplies to help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but we need to do so in a thoughtful and balanced way.
There were concerns among environmental organizations that the original plan was not assessed properly, in regards to the effects it would have on the environment, not to mention the close proximity of treasured natural areas. And as I previously mentioned, the federal judge seemed to have some concerns too. Now, the administration also thinks that way, as do many other people. In other words, better to examine what you're doing before making decisions, so that you don't create unwise policy.

[Upchurch]

just curious PT, which diety would you invoke to damn the grand cannion.The Grand Pile of Dirt? (or "Dehrt", as the case may be)

[peptoabysmal]

I heard he was half-Canadian ...

OMG the birthers are going to have a fit over that :eye-poppi

[BPSCG]

Nope, I don't think so. Here's what Salazar had to say (emphasis mine):
There were concerns among environmental organizations that the original plan was not assessed properly, in regards to the effects it would have on the environment, not to mention the close proximity of treasured natural areas. And as I previously mentioned, the federal judge seemed to have some concerns too. Now, the administration also thinks that way, as do many other people. Ah, I see. So environmental groups don't oppose drilling for oil per se. They just don't want to drill for it in places where it could cause any environmental disruption of any kind.

So the Gulf of Mexico is off-limits.
And the California coast.
And the Rocky Mountains.
And Alaska.
And now Utah.

Just curious, where do y'all think it should be okay to drill for oil? Are you in favor of drilling for oil anywhere where there might actually be some?

[WildCat]

Don't worry, ethanol will solve all our problems!

[joobz]

Don't worry, ethanol will solve all our problems!
Alcohol, the cause and solution to all of life's problems.

[RecoveringYuppy]

She noted that the contested leases, if fully developed, would satisfy 0.02 percent of the nation's annual consumption of oil and 0.5 percent of its natural gas usage

So, developing these leases doesn't really help significantly towards achieving energy security.

[lupus_in_fabula]

Emphasis mine: Ah, I see. So environmental groups don't oppose drilling for oil per se. They just don't want to drill for it in places where it could cause any environmental disruption of any kind. I'm not sure how you come to that conclusion from what I posted, although environmental groups often tend to be pretty critical against oil drilling. But they don't always have the last say, do they? In this particular case, the current administration concurred with them. Simple as that.

Just curious, where do y'all think it should be okay to drill for oil? Are you in favor of drilling for oil anywhere where there might actually be some? I don't know where they should drill, although I'm not categorically against drilling either. My opinion is however irrelevant; I don't live in Utah or in the U.S., nor am I a citizen. What I have observed is that much of the policy related criticism seems to have been in regards to that particular place and to the hasty decision-making process involved. Moreover, as RecoveringYuppy already mentioned, the national significance of the reserve seems to have been outweighed by other concerns in this case.

Do you think it was a particularly good place to drill?

[WildCat]

Do you think it was a particularly good place to drill?
Generally a good place to drill for oil and gas are those places where oil and gas are located.

Is Utah any more "environmentally sensitive" than the tar sand areas in western Canada? The rain forests in Venezuela? The deserts of Saudi Arabia? The North Sea off Norway, Iceland, and the UK? Texas?

[JihadJane]

Looks like our energy problems must at long last be over.


How is drilling for oil going to solve our energy problems?

[RecoveringYuppy]

How is drilling for oil going to solve our energy problems?

Along the same lines, you could ask how it might increase our "energy security" to pump oil out of the ground. Considering that our military is highly dependent on oil, that most suppliers of oils are not our most dependable allies or worse, and that the life of our dependable reserves is comparable to a protracted war, I think it's reasonable to wonder if increasing our energy security would be best served by leaving a lot of oil in the ground for now.

[lupus_in_fabula]

Generally a good place to drill for oil and gas are those places where oil and gas are located.

Is Utah any more "environmentally sensitive" than the tar sand areas in western Canada? The rain forests in Venezuela? The deserts of Saudi Arabia? The North Sea off Norway, Iceland, and the UK? Texas?

Ah yes. When you dig a well it's also generally a a good idea to do it where there's water available. Fortunately the particular place in Utah, which seems to be controversial in this case, is not the only place oil exists. And that's the thing here, other concerns was deemed more important.

I think this short editorial (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/opinion/06fri3.html?ref=opinion) ends quite well: Industry is complaining that any change in the Bush-Cheney approach would damage its ability to develop domestic energy supplies. This is nonsense. For one thing, industry has yet to explore large areas to which it already has access, onshore and off. All Mr. Salazar wants is balance and restraint, and after years of hyperactive leasing, this is not too much to ask. Yep, why not look at already existing opportunities first, and secondly engage in proper examination of new places. "Drill now, drill anywhere" policy is not the current administration's policy.

[fishbob]

Looks like our energy problems must at long last be over.
Link (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020401785.html?hpid=topnews)

Notice the leases were on land near these "pristine areas," not actually on them.

"Pristine area" = any place the government lets vultures and snakes live, but not people.

With the price of oil in the toilet, the oil companies are cutting back on drilling operations at Prudhoe Bay - where they already have productive fields and a pipeline for getting the oil to market. Buying these leases near national parks may have been attractive to some wildcatters at $140 / bbl, but stinks to high heaven at $42.

[UnrepentantSinner]

"Pristine area" = any place the government lets vultures and snakes live, but not people.

Why do you hate ancient Egypt?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Tutmask.jpg/449px-Tutmask.jpg

[BPSCG]

Buying these leases near national parks may have been attractive to some wildcatters at $140 / bbl, but stinks to high heaven at $42.Gee, don't you think that should be the buyer's decision?

And even if they're wasting their money, what's a little waste matter? I keep hearing that defense of the so-called "stimulus" package.

[Dr Adequate]

And even if they're wasting their money, what's a little waste matter? I keep hearing that defense of the so-called "stimulus" package. Linky?

[fishbob]

Gee, don't you think that should be the buyer's decision?
.

Federal lands are our lands. Maybe we should have a say also.
Oh - looks like we do.