Bush urges courts to appeal drilling ban offshore California – Looking Ahead – Minerals Management Service appeal – Brief Article
The Bush administration has appealed a judge’s decision to block new drilling off California’s coast, saying that the judge erred in ruling that leases could be extended only with the state’s approval. This follows a decision to bar exploration from the area, due partly to environmental concerns. The Minerals Management Service appeal states that its decision to extend the leases on the offshore tracts would have “no effect on coastal uses or resources” and does not mean that new drilling or exploration would begin. In 1999, Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt extended the 40 leases in dispute for 10 years, as they were set to expire. The lease extension has widely been viewed as a prelude to renewed oil prospecting in the area.
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