The Absurd Report

The Outer Continental Shelf presents a tremendous opportunity to expand domestic oil and natural gas production with little or no downside. Extra energy is badly needed, and the risk of producing it has been greatly reduced. Over the past few months, high energy prices have shifted the tide in favor of drilling in restricted areas.

The public supports offshore drilling by 2-to-1 margins. In July, President Bush lifted the executive moratorium on offshore drilling while urging Congress to do the same. Now, the U.S. Minerals Management Services is doing its part by commencing the process to develop a new Five Year Leasing Plan for the Outer Continental Shelf.
And in approximately two short weeks we could be celebrating Energy Freedom Day. That is to say, even if Congress does not pass a bill that affirmatively opens up these offshore areas, it could accomplish the same end by simply letting the existing restrictions lapse. Of course, it will take time for the Interior Department to lease these areas and for the energy companies to develop them, but the process can at least begin.

In addition to making restricted areas available, a large hurdle exists: Environmental litigation. After all, what good is making all these areas available if they are so burdened with red tape that it would be years before companies can even begin the process of extracting these valuable resources?

Environmental radicals have protested practically every new lease for oil production. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

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Tags: Drilling and Reduce Red Tape

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