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Judge Martin Feldman Overturns Deep Water Drilling Ban
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by NowPublic Staff | June 22, 2010 at 10:01 am
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New Orleans Judge Martin Feldman Ruling: Six-Month Government Moratorium On Deep Water Drilling Illegal, Overturned
A court in New Orleans has ruled that the federal government's six month moratorium on deep-water drilling is illegal. After the BP oil spill the federal government placed a six month moratorium on deep water drilling below 500 feet, affecting about 33 rigs.
Government lawyers told U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman that the sinking of the Deepwater Horizon rig off the Louisiana coast in April was a “game changer’’ that exposed the risks of offshore oil exploration.
“We need to make sure deepwater drilling is as safe as we thought it was the day before this incident,’’ Brian Collins, a lawyer for the government, told Feldman in a court hearing June 21. “It is crucial to take the time because to fail to do so would be to gamble with the long-term future of this region.’’
But the judge Martin Feldman was not buying that argument. The judge granted a preliminary injunction, calling the government's decision "arbitrary" and not in the public interest.
Those who wanted the ban lifted included Governor Bobby Jindal, the oil industry in Louisiana, and many citizens of the state who depend on the high paying jobs from the drilling industry provides.
Oil service company, Hornbeck Offshore Services lead the plaintiffs case against the government which had significant support in Louisiana.
The offshore oil business is a large part of the economy in Louisiana and provides high paying work. Critics say the federal government is unfairly punishing an entire industry for the behavior of one company, BP.
Plaintiffs also note that Louisiana stands to lose "enormous" revenue, since federal law entitles the state to a 32% cut of all mineral revenue generated in 8 million acres recently opened for drilling in the gulf.
Outside the courthouse Monday, plaintiff Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger, 60, said he was already feeling the pain. As owner of Bollinger Shipyards in nearby Lockport, he has seen business fizzle in the wake of the moratorium. Bollinger, a former state campaign finance chairman for President George W. Bush, said he had lost three contracts for deep-water support vessels, the supply ships that bring groceries and parts to the rigs, and he fears he will lose more as the moratorium drags on.
The White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says it will immediately appeal the ruling to a higher Federal Court.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (6)
at 12:39 on June 22nd, 2010
Well I hope judge Feldmann will be sued to pay for the cost of the next incident, which definitely will come.
at 19:13 on June 22nd, 2010
Fucking oil whore republican bastard
at 18:22 on June 23rd, 2010
My, what a superior intellect.
at 16:41 on June 23rd, 2010
All Republicans are either stupid, evil or both.
at 18:27 on June 23rd, 2010
And I thought it was against the Left's creed to stereotype people.
at 14:56 on June 24th, 2010
judge martin feldman needs to be removed from his bench . I just read on NBC-2.com that he has financial investments in several petroleum companies including Transocean Ltd. (the owners of the late Deep water horizon . if that ain't straight up Bull shit !!!