The Interior Department issued two new safety rules today, setting what Secretary Salazar has called the "gold standard" for offshore oil and natural gas development. The new rules, which cover blowout preventers (BOPs), emergency response, well design and training, are part of the administration's response to the Deepwater Horizon accident.

• The Drilling Safety Rule codifies several requirements recommended in Secretary Salazar's May 27th report to President Obama. It addresses well cementing and casing practices, the use of drilling fluids, and strengthens the use of BOPs and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The rule is effective immediately.
• The Workplace Safety Rule requires offshore operators to have programs in place to identify potential hazards as well as procedures to reduce r... more »

API and two other groups yesterday filed an amicus brief in federal court in a case challenging the U.S. Defense Department's use of fuels derived from Canadian oil-sands oil.

API, the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association (NPRA), and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are seeking to intervene in the suit filed in June by the Sierra Club and the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy alleging that the Pentagon is not complying with Section 526 of a 2007 energy law. Section 526 requires the agency not to acquire fuels derived from crude-oil sources with higher greenhouse gas emissions than fuels derived from conventional sources.

As we've reported on this blog, a study by IHS CERA determined that the "well-to-wheel" lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from Canadian oil-sands oil are on par w... more »

Tomorrow, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is expected to lay out the administration's energy strategy--including its stance on deepwater offshore drilling--in a speech at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Observers say it's likely that Sec. Salazar will announce a new interim final rule codifying many of the new offshore requirements aimed at increasing safety and improving environmental practices.

In the wake of the Deepwater Horizon accident in April, the administration ordered the immediate inspection of the 33 deepwater drilling rigs, all of which passed; it launched investigations into the cause of the Deepwater Horizon accident; it reorganized the former Minerals Management Service into three separate agencies to better define its roles in leasing offshore developm... more »

Thus far, nearly 170,000 Americans have participated in the Virtual Rally for Jobs. In fact, the online rally has been such a success that it's been extended through the rest of this week (until Friday, October 1).

Among the thousands of rally participants are leaders of various organizations whose members depend on reliable and affordable energy--and many whose jobs are supported by the oil and natural gas industry. In the videos below, they have stepped forward to encourage Americans to get involved.

Karen Kerrigan is president and CEO of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, an organization representing roughly 70,000 members. Karen joined the Virtual Rally for Jobs because of the energy industry's importance to America's small business and entrepreneurial sector.

Harry... more »

In today's episode, I interview Don Norman of Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI and API's Kyle Isakower about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposal to tighten ozone standards and its potential impact on jobs and the economy.

Use the audio player below to listen to information about the article and follow along with the show notes. I hope you find the podcast informative.

00:17 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to tighten air quality standards for ground level ozone from 75 parts per billion to a range of 60 to 70 parts per billion. Now on the surface, regulations that promise cleaner air sound like a good idea, right? Well, not when the new ozone standards could put millions of Americans out of work. Don Norman of Manufacturers All... more »