rgoper 0 #1 December 4, 2002 QuoteU.S. Court Blocks Drilling Offshore California Tuesday, December 03, 2002 The 9th California Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ban on new exploration offshore California, ruling that future exploration cannot go forward without a state environmental review. The decision by a three-judge panel does not cover existing offshore production in state and federal tracts. This is a setback for the Bush Administration which had been seeking to open up 36 offshore leases for exploration. These tracts are estimated to hold one billion barrels of oil off the state's central coast. The move to extend the 36 leases was widely seen by environmental groups as a prelude to renewed oil prospecting in California, which has been halted since 1989. "After losing twice in federal court it is time for the Bush administration to stop fighting for more oil drilling and to start protecting California's coast," said Drew Caputo, a lawyer with the Natural Resources Defense Council. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Interior, which is named in the lawsuit, said lawyers were still reviewing whether to appeal the decision to the full court. The spokesman emphasized the case was about the government's right to extend the leases, and not about allowing drilling. California sued to block the new exploration soon after President Clinton's Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt extended the offshore leases in 1999 as they were set to expire while ordering a review of their impact on the environment. These tracts were exempt from the Clinton administration's 1998 ban on new oil drilling because the leases were so old. The state, however, argued against the department, saying California had been illegally denied the right to review the leases for environmental issues before any action at the federal level. U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken agreed and in June 2001 halted exploration and drilling in the 36 offshore tracts, pending environmental review and approval by the California Coastal Commission. While the state's suit did not explicitly seek cancellation of the leases, Davis has expressed reservations about offshore oil drilling and environmental groups have loudly condemned any move which could threaten the state's famous coastline. Companies holding the leases include Aera Energy, ExxonMobil, Shell, ConocoPhillips, Nuevo Energy and Samedan Oil Corp. and yet we wonder why we depend on foreign energy. this makes me sick. bastads! like i said, "this isn't about oil"--Richard-- "We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #2 December 4, 2002 Alternitive fuels.... Hydrogen fuels would take care of the dependence over night. Got water? You've got power basically. Renewed interst in Cold Fusion would help if it ever cracked. Solar and Wind have more then enough potential to reduse the amount of power plants needed inb the US and reduse the amount of oil needed for those purposes. But oil is cheap so as long as it lasts... might as well use all of it we can...Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sebazz1 2 #3 December 4, 2002 I will say for the record that this decision makes me very very happy. I remeber going to school in Santa Barbara and whenever I came back from surfing I had to de-tar my surf board or cut clumps of tar out of my hair. It was because of the seepage from where the oil platforms had drilled into the ocean floor. Such beautiful coastline down south is fucked because of the off shore drilling down there. I can only hope that it never ever ever happens up here in the north. The Pacific coastline is so magical and beautiful, I do not want it to get f'ed up. I don't care what you say. I don't care the consequences. Don't drill off the coast here... Just my .02... I feel strongly enough about it that I would probably become extremely pissed off if drilling was allowed off the Nor Cal coast... Pissed off enough to probably get involved... But hey I still love to have a beer one of these days... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
happythoughts 0 #4 December 4, 2002 California has been feeling pensive and rejected. Offshore drilling brings up memories of the Santa Barbara oil spill a few years ago. There's a big emotional flag that is thrown out about that. Easy to cause a stir. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
livendive 8 #5 December 4, 2002 Quote Quote U.S. Court Blocks Drilling Offshore California Tuesday, December 03, 2002 The 9th California Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a ban on new exploration offshore California, ruling that future exploration cannot go forward without a state environmental review... and yet we wonder why we depend on foreign energy. this makes me sick. bastads! like i said, "this isn't about oil" Why is a Texan so pissed off about a California court ruling regarding the protection of California coasts? Blues, Dave"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!" (drink Mountain Dew) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhillyKev 0 #6 December 4, 2002 QuoteWhy is a Texan so pissed off about a California court ruling regarding the protection of California coasts? Probably because that Texan is sitting in Saudi Arabia wishing he was working in California instead. Sorry, Richard, but I'm glad they're blocking it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lummy 4 #7 December 4, 2002 and you would expect something different from a bunch of tree hugging, warm n fuzzy, environmentally concerned , liberally minded LEFT COASTERS?I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. I promise not to TP Davis under canopy.. eat sushi, get smoochieTTK#1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,120 #8 December 4, 2002 >Hydrogen fuels would take care of the dependence over night. We don't have any. You can make it, but you can also make gasoline - and synthetic fuels haven't solved our problems. >But oil is cheap so as long as it lasts... might as well use all of it > we can... ??? If oil runs out, we can use alternate fuels. But how are you going to live without nylon and plastics? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PhreeZone 20 #9 December 4, 2002 That last line was ment as scarcsm I'm actually happy that they are not allowing the leases to be renewed. Yesterday is history And tomorrow is a mystery Parachutemanuals.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rgoper 0 #10 December 4, 2002 Quote Probably because that Texan is sitting in Saudi Arabia wishing he was working in California instead. BINGO! thank you, plus i was born in San Diego. Quote Sorry, Richard, but I'm glad they're blocking it. no need for apology, this is your thoughts! --Richard-- "We Will Not Be Shaken By Thugs, And Terroist" Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
