WASHINGTON (July 12, 2010)—The Associated Press quoted two administration officials Monday who said the Obama administration will issue a new revised moratorium on offshore drilling Monday. Both requested anonymity so as not to preempt the official announcement.
Last week, a federal appeals court rejected the government's effort to restore its initial offshore deepwater drilling moratorium, which halted the approval of any new permits for deepwater projects and suspended drilling on 33 exploratory wells.
U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman first rejected it last month.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said at the time that he would issue a new, refined moratorium.
The administration says it wants to ensure that deepwater drilling is safe.
