Here we go .....

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http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINWBT01046020090121

White House may put hold on offshore drilling plan
Thu Jan 22, 2009 1:46am 


WASHINGTON, Jan 21 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama may order a 
hold on a proposal issued in the final days of the Bush administration 
to expand offshore drilling in previously banned areas, an Interior 
Department official told Reuters on Wednesday.

Shortly after being sworn in on Tuesday, Obama ordered all federal 
agencies and departments to halt pending regulations until they can be 
reviewed by incoming staff.

An Interior official said the department is waiting for clarification 
from the White House on whether a proposed draft of a five-year plan to 
lease areas in the Atlantic and Pacific waters for oil and natural gas 
drilling can go forward.

The preliminary plan would authorize 31 energy exploration lease sales 
between 2010 and 2015 for tracts along the east coast and off the coasts 
of Alaska and California.

Both presidential and congressional bans on drilling in most U.S. waters 
ended last year.

Separately, the Interior official said the department's plan to develop 
oil shale fields in the western United States may also be stopped by 
Obama's order. (Reporting by Ayesha Rascoe and Tom Doggett) 

CMPQwk 1.42-21 9999 
Patriotism is not who can leak the most Secret documents to the NY Times ...

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