U.S. bills would allow oil, gas drilling off Virginia

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By Bill Bartel
The Virginian-Pilot
© March 30, 2011

Legislation that would end the federal moratorium on offshore drilling along much of the East Coast and require the issuance of federal gas and oil leases for areas off Virginia's shores was introduced Tuesday by the chairman of the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee.

Its co-sponsors include two Hampton Roads representatives.

U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, a Washington state Republican, introduced measures to end the moratorium and require the Department of the Interior to conduct sales of gas and oil leases in federal waters off Virginia's coast within a year of the bill becoming law.

The legislative package also would set up rules intended to speed the approval of new drilling rigs and leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Westmoreland County, said the legislation can be an "economic driver" to bring more jobs to Virginia and reduce dependence on oil produced in Middle East countries that are "in the midst of some pretty significant turmoil."

He and U.S. Rep. Scott Rigell, a Virginia Beach Republican, are co-sponsors.

"These three bills represent the kind of common-sense legislation that Americans wanted us to pass when they put us into office last November," Rigell said.

Hastings said in a statement that he believes the public wants drilling to begin.

"The majority of Americans support offshore energy production, and these bills will allow it to move forward in a safe, responsible and efficient manner," he said.

President Barack Obama imposed a moratorium on offshore drilling last year in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident in the Gulf of Mexico. Obama is scheduled to explain his "energy security" plans in a speech today at Georgetown University.

Bill Bartel, (757) 446-2398, bill.bartel@ pilotonline.com

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Good on Rep. Rigell

Submitted by Whitt Miller on Thu, 04/14/2011 at 1:58 am.

I'm glad to see Rep. Rigell leading in taking strides towards American energy dependence, an issue that will only become more prevalent as gas prices rise (I paid 3.72 today for a gallon of regular) and energy costs soar. This is yet another example of Scott leading the country back onto the right track, a welcome relief from the insanity in Washington D.C. over the last few years.

No impact?

Submitted by ODUJBall on Wed, 03/30/2011 at 10:15 am.

If the bill passes, it will be vetoed. It is obvious Obama is not interested in our financial woes.

Some of you people will believe anything from the White House, truely sad. With known reserves in Texas, Oklahoma, Alaska, the Gulf, the East Coast, and the Dakotas do you REALLY think it wouldn't impact the price of oil when (as stated below) Libya's influence was so dramatic? God gave you a brain, use it.

The issue is the lack of infastructure to refine it, and we can fix that.

An excellent idea

Submitted by keithh41833 on Tue, 03/29/2011 at 7:37 pm.

Virginia should go after oil and natural gas. Of course you can bet that the green weenie democrats in the senate will mess it up for Virginia. Or it will be vetoed. First we'll be bankrupted by Obama's wars, then flat broke due to high energy costs from the middle east.

"Obama's wars?"

Submitted by David Campbell on Wed, 03/30/2011 at 9:48 am.

I believe that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have been bankrupting us were initiated by President Bush. President Obama has been gradually winding them down.

That's correct!

Submitted by keithh41833 on Wed, 03/30/2011 at 6:06 pm.

Bush started them and he was wrong too. But.... Barack Obama has been president since Jan. 20, 2009. He could have chosen to close GITMO, pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan immediately. He chose not to and instead committed us to a WAR in Libya. He is taking his marching orders from the UN whereas there has been little mention of congress. Therefore one has to assume that he is willing to get permission from a bunch of pinko socialists rather than those who represent you. Impeachment proceedings should begin promptly.