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Begich Statement on Suspension of Arctic Exploratory Drilling
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Julie Hasquet, Press Secretary
May 26, 2010
(907) 258-9304 office
2010-107

U.S. Sen. Mark Begich released the following statement after learning the Obama Administration will announce tomorrow consideration of any applications for exploratory drilling in the Arctic is suspended until 2011:

"I am frustrated that this decision by the Obama Administration to halt offshore development for a year will cause more delays and higher costs for domestic oil and gas production to meet the nation's energy needs.

"The Gulf of Mexico tragedy has highlighted the need for much stronger oversight and accountability of oil companies working offshore, but Shell has updated its plans at the administration's request and made significant investments to address the concerns raised by the Gulf spill. They make an effective case that we can safely explore for oil and gas this summer in the Arctic.

"Another year of delay costs money and Alaska jobs. The nation also has to export more dollars and import more oil from some unfriendly places, jeopardizing our economic and national security.

"I still believe we can responsibly develop oil and gas resources in the Arctic. Over the next year, I'll work with Senator Murkowski and Secretary Salazar, as well as the Alaska operators, to ensure we're ready to go as soon as possible."

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Originally posted by mincingbeast:
Not really. Most of the benefits of personhood, pretty much none of the drawbacks. Its a rad gig, and I'm trying to figure out a way to incorporate myself...currently offering Mincingbeast stock. Its worthless.

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Originally posted by dreamtrove:

Americans suck at boycotts. Just look at walmart. The whole price war thing is a trick to get us not to boycott oil companies. After all, what do I care if it costs a penny more a gallon. Even for twelve gallons. That 12c. Big whoop.

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Originally posted by mincingbeast:
Lol Kwicko, I hereby award you a controlling stake in Mincingbeast (51 percent).

I'm still stunned that people, even Republicans, could come to BPs defense at this point. Perhaps we can wait until the disaster is more manageable before destroying BP, thus maintaining some incentive for them to stay busy. But in my humble and deranged opinion, BP is already dead. Just hasn't assumed room temperature yet.

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Posted by PizmoBeach:


On a recent road trip I passed by several BPs that were busy with people getting gas and sundries. Seems like the news doesn't go very far.

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Byte: I don't doubt that there IS collusion to set, raise, or lower gas prices, but in this case it hasn't worked quite to BP's advantage. Typically, gas prices go up heading into summer ("peak driving season", they say). Have you noticed the prices going up lately? I've seen the stations near me drop gas prices by $0.15/gal in the last month.

I think the oil companies have a fear that this will have a negative backlash on them, and that people will start TRYING to drive less, drive more efficiently, buy and use less gas, etc. And I think they're actively trying to hold down gas prices - even if it impacts their short-term profits - to try to assuage our fears and keep us addicted to cheap oil. That's just the feeling that I get. I have no factual basis for that; it's just a hunch.

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Originally posted by citizen:
The US burns about double the total amount of oil spilled so far into the Gulf of Mexico a day.

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Originally posted by Bytemite:
Oops, I'll fix it.

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Originally posted by chrisisall:

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Originally posted by Bytemite:
Oops, I'll fix it.

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Are you Wonder Woman?


The laughing Chrisisall

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All coastal properties, townships, cities, counties and states should independently sue BP for damages to help with clean up.

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The morning the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded, a BP executive and a Transocean official argued over how to proceed with the drilling, rig survivors told CNN's Anderson Cooper in an exclusive interview. The survivors' account paints perhaps the most detailed picture yet of what happened on the deepwater rig -- and the possible causes of the April 20 explosion.

The BP official wanted workers to replace heavy mud, used to keep the well's pressure down, with lighter seawater to help speed a process that was costing an estimated $750,000 a day and was already running five weeks late, rig survivors told CNN. BP won the argument, said Doug Brown, the rig's chief mechanic. "He basically said, 'Well, this is how it's gonna be.' "

"That's what the big argument was about," added Daniel Barron III. Shortly after the exchange, chief driller Dewey Revette expressed concern and opposition too, the workers said, and on the drilling floor, they chatted among themselves.

"I don't ever remember doing this," they said, according to Barron. "I think that's why Dewey was so reluctant to try to do it," Barron said, "because he didn't feel it was the right way to have things done. Revette was among the 11 workers killed when the rig exploded that night.

In the CNN interviews, the workers described a corporate culture of cutting staff and ignoring warning signs ahead of the blast. They said BP routinely cut corners and pushed ahead despite concerns about safety.

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