Exxon fighting regulatory “pirates” in Gulf of Mexico

Hot Air ^ | August 20,2011 | ED MORRISSEY

[Hojczyk]

ExxonMobil, and its Norwegian partner Statoil made the biggest discovery of all — a field worth a billion barrels of oil — 7,000 feet below sea level in its “Julia” field in 2007.

Exxon tried to keep its discovery secret to keep marauders away. Sadly, the pirates in this instance are U.S. regulators — and their aim is to stop them.

That’s right: Instead of marvel at the continuing treasures of the New World, or hail the human ingenuity that made retrieval of so much oil possible, or simply quantify how this discovery will boost U.S. energy security, Interior Department bureaucrats moved instead to snatch Exxon’s permits and shut the whole thing down.

Employing an extreme technicality, these regulators claimed that Exxon’s request in 2008 for a short suspension of activity to upgrade and make safer its drilling operation amounted to an abandonment of three of its five permits, simply because Exxon hadn’t signed a contract with another partner, Chevron, by the time the suspension was completed. …

Exxon is now fighting the permit action in a federal court in Lake Charles, La., calling it “arbitrary,” “capricious” and “an abuse of law.” It’s also a textbook case of the anti-business climate fostered by the Obama administration which should be bending over backward to help Exxon create jobs and profits.

So let’s look at what the Obama administration is trying to accomplish, and what it’s costing you as a result.

Well, it’s going to cost us jobs in the Gulf, and not just there, either. As IBD points out, drilling requires a lot more support than just people working on the rig. The rigs have to be built, and then the heavy machinery has to be manufactured — “in places like Youngstown, Ohio,” at a steel plant

S

[Dick Bachert]

Fed up with Obama and Congress? SO AM I!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhkyRZoHlTM

[Logical me]

King Obama and his communists empire will and for the most part destroyed much of America. It will be hard to come back if ever.

[Conservativegreatgrandma]

Obama and his minions are destroying America. Energy should be issue number one in this campaign. If we could get a sane energy policy, we can create huge amounts of jobs producing our very own oil right here in the good ole USA, which will also cause energy prices to fall which will put more discretionary money in people's pockets which will create more demand for goods and services, which will create more jobs, etc., etc., etc.

This is not rocket science.

[GlockThe Vote]

Bump.

[stboz]

We can, but it isn't going to be easy.

Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

[TalBlack]

“Employing an extreme technicality, these regulators claimed that Exxon’s request in 2008 for a short suspension of activity to upgrade and make safer its drilling operation amounted to an abandonment of three of its five permits,”

A requested suspension is by definition continuity. Abandonment is another thing entirely

[shield]

Jack Wheeler says: Right person in the WH...right people in house and senate and it will not be easy but it can be done.

I say we'll have to have different leaders in both the senate and house, also.

[b9]

If we could get a sane energy policy, we can create huge amounts of jobs producing our very own oil right here in the good ole USA

Excuse me, but isn't that the best reason to support Palin? Isn't that her prime objective? Her proven prime objective?

[RedMonqey]

....regulators claimed that Exxon’s request in 2008 for a short suspension of activity to upgrade and make safer its drilling operation amounted to an abandonment of three of its five permits,”

And if Exxon didn't upgrade their equipment the "Regulators" would shut them down for "safty violations"

There is truly a finite supply of oil in the world. But with 80% of the world(75% of it oceans and seas)yet to be explored we are far from "peak oil"

What we have are "Regulators" who don't want the resources tapped for political reasons.

[Wonder Warthog]

"Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."

That line, my friend, is an "instant classic". Sums up the whole "socialism thing" and the notion of the "tyranny of the majority" so feared by the Founding Fathers in a single sentence. Original with you, or "borrowed"??? Either way, I hadn't heard it before, but I will certainly remember and use it. GREAT!!

[holyscroller]

"Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."

Brilliant line. Truth in a sentence. Thanks.

[rustyboots]

“Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.”

It couldn’t have been said any better!!!! Forgive me when I use it in the future.

[catfish1957]

Never in my life have I ever considered the government as much as “the enemy” as I do now.

[stboz]

Guys, I have to admit I am not the source of the proclamation.

I got from the Sales Manager of West Side Ford in Firebaugh, CA. If you listen to KMJ, you’ve doubtlessly heard it already.

[zeugma]

Those of us who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.

I like that... stolen.