George W Bush lifted an almost 20 year-old executive order that banned oil and natural gas drilling in most US coastal waters on Monday. The symbolic move was presented as a way of relieving the pressure that high oil prices are placing on US citizens.
It follows on Bush鈥檚 call for the US Congress to end its drilling ban last month. Both bans must be lifted in order for offshore drilling to go ahead.
With prices at the pump over $4 a gallon, Bush pushed Congress 鈥� currently under Democrat control 鈥� to expand offshore oil and natural gas drilling in the outer continental shelf and give oil companies access to the .
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鈥淭oday, I鈥檝e taken every step within my power to allow offshore exploration,鈥� Bush told reporters. 鈥淭his means the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the US Congress.鈥�
Exxon Valdez legacy
With an eye to the November election, Bush accused Democrats of having 鈥渄one nothing鈥� as fuel prices have gone up and urged them to pass a law for 鈥渞esponsible offshore exploration鈥� and to give states a say in the decisions.
The executive drilling ban was first issued in 1990 by the first President Bush in the wake of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska 鈥� the worst tanker accident in US history. The legislative ban imposed by Congress in 1981 expires on 30 September, but can be renewed.
Republican presidential hopeful John McCain backs Bush鈥檚 move, calling it 鈥渁 very important signal鈥�.
鈥淚n the short term, it鈥檚 important for us to have our own reserves as we transition to different kinds of energy,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e need to have sufficient oil reserves off our coast to either reduce or at least cushion the increased costs of oil.鈥�
鈥楳isleading Americans鈥�
But his opponent in the upcoming elections, Democrat Barack Obama, opposed the move. 鈥淚f offshore drilling would provide short-term relief at the pump, or a long-term strategy for energy independence, it would be worthy of our consideration,鈥� said his spokesman. 鈥淏ut most experts, even within the Bush administration, concede it would do neither.鈥�
Offshore drilling is exceptionally permitted in parts of the Gulf of Mexico. Lifting both bans would mean states including Florida and Alaska could decide for themselves whether or not to allow drilling on their coasts.
鈥淭he president cruelly is misleading Americans for attempted political gain,鈥� said Senator Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat. 鈥淗e knows ruining our coastlines won鈥檛 bring down gasoline prices nor solve our energy challenges.鈥�
The US Energy Department鈥檚 forecasting arm has said opening the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf of Mexico regions to drilling 鈥渨ould not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030鈥�.
