The administration is erecting more roadblocks to offshore drilling. According to published reports, the government will require an environmental assessment for each and every deepwater well. It also plans to extend the government's timeframe for exploration plan review from 30 to 90 days.

As a result, the plan approval and permitting process will take longer than ever before and further delay the offshore development of U.S. oil and natural gas.

API's Upstream Director Erik Milito told the Houston Chronicle the decision to require an environmental assessment for each well adds more red tape to the permitting process and gives less flexibility to regulators who have the authority to waive environmental assessments when appropriate.

Mark Shuster of Shell Oil said it's a matter of sig... more »

Historically, the role of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been that of a regulatory agency with the mission of enforcing federal environmental laws to protect human health. However, recently, EPA has overreached its authority--moving forward to advance policies absent congressional action that could cost millions of jobs, hurt American consumers and put U.S. businesses at a competitive disadvantage globally.

The agency's recent E15 waiver may damage vehicle engines and void warranties; its push to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act was described by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) as an "economic train wreck"; and EPA's approach to ozone standards could destroy U.S. jobs, raise energy costs and divert capital that could be used to assist economic recov... more »

There'll be a show-down in the U.S. Senate today. At issue: Whether the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should regulate greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) under the Clean Air Act.

On one side of the debate is the administration, which is threatening a veto if the Senate passes a resolution of disapproval stopping the EPA's proposed regulation OF GHGS. On the other side stands Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and the resolution's co-sponsors.

The two sides traded barbs Tuesday, with the administration asserting the EPA regulations would reduce the impacts of "risks associated with environmental catastrophes, like ongoing BP oil spill," and Murkowski charging that linking her resolution with the oil spill "sets a new low."

Murkowski's disapproval resolution has solid backing from business,... more »