Politics. On Point.

November Sale Will Offer All Available Unleased Areas in the Western Gulf of Mexico, Only Latest in a Series of Recent Major Offshore Oil and Gas Sales As part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will hold an oil and gas lease sale that will make more than 20 million offshore acres available, and represents all unleased areas in the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. The Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale builds on two major Gulf of Mexico lease sales in the past year alone, a 21 million acre sale held last December and a 39 million acre sale held in June.“At President Obama’s direction, his Administration continues to implement a comprehensive, all-of-the-above energy strategy, expanding domestic production, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and supporting jobs,” said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “Developing public energy resources in the...

Last week President Obama praised the team of Admiral Thad Allen, Secretaries Salazar, Chu, Napolitano, Administrators Jackson and Lubchenco, Carol Browner, and the federal science and engineering teams saying, “Today, we achieved an important milestone in our response to the BP oil spill – the final termination of the damaged well that sat deep under the Gulf of Mexico." Oil spewing in the Gulf has stopped, as we know of. But environmentalist still have their doubts.  As they should. Concerns about the aftermath and effects on the region's marine life, fishery industry, and ecosystem, and more recently, the livestock, are still looming. Click  here  to see what a new study has found. The president and his administration have said they are committed to healing the Gulf Coast. "We also remain committed to doing everything possible to make sure the Gulf Coast recovers fully from this disaster. This road will not be easy, but we will continue to work clos...

Makes Second Trip To Gulf Coast On Friday morning, May 28, the president will travel to the Louisiana Gulf Coast to assess the latest efforts to counter the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Administration has mobilized one of the largest responses to a catastrophic event in history, with more than 1,200 vessels in the region and more than 22,000 people, including many of the brightest scientific minds from both the public and private sector, working around the clock to mitigate the oil’s impact. The President will join more than 22,000 people in the region, including many of the brightest scientific minds from both the public and private sector, who are working around the clock to mitigate the oil’s impact. The administration will continue to hold the responsible parties accountable for repairing the damage and repaying Americans who’ve suffered a financial loss. BP continues to process claims via its claims website (www.bp.com/claims) and its helpline (1-800-440-0858). ...

Who Says Hollywood Types Don't Care Enough About The Environment? Not us. Proving that point, here's word on actor Kevin Costner trying to do just that. His funded device, a centrifuge that helps pull oil from water is being considered by - wait for it (wait for it), - BP Oil . The 'Costner Machine'. Described as a centrifugal processing device that separates oil from water, pegged to help clean up BP Oil spill. Also a fisherman (when he isn't preparing for the silver screen) Costner purchased the devices from the government over 15 years ago and invested $24 million to develop the machines for the private sector. BP has already approved six of the machines for testing in the gulf, where they will extract the spilled oil, send it back to a tanker and pump 99 percent purified water back into the ocean. Chop, chop, BP! The world is waiting for you to clean up your mess! Oddly enough, and as we head into Memorial Day Weekend, this is national Safe Boating...

Interior Department Announces Reforms to Enhance Oil and Gas Oversight As part of an ongoing agenda to change the way the Department of the Interior does business, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced a set of reforms that will provide federal inspectors more tools, more resources, more independence, and greater authority to enforce laws and regulations that apply to oil and gas companies operating on the Outer Continental Shelf. Salazar has also enlisted the National Academy of Engineering to provide a set of fresh eyes on the issues surrounding the Deepwater Horizonincident and an independent, science-based understanding of what happened. NOAA Modifies Fishing Closed Areas in Gulf; 93 Percent Remains Open NOAA’s Fisheries Service modified the area closed to fishing in the Gulf of Mexico due to the spill, which will include federal waters seaward of Louisiana state waters in the vicinity of Timbalier Island to waters off Florida’s Choctawhatchee Bay. These changes w...

President Obama and Administration Tour Oil Spilled Areas of Louisiana, Vowing To Do "Whatever It Takes, For As Long As It Takes" The president and EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson concluded the tour of areas that could be impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. "Local responders and EPA staff in our Emergency Operations Center at headquarters are working around to clock to assess and confront human health concerns, mitigate immediate environmental impacts, and prepare for the long-term effects of the BP Spill. We continue to offer the fullest measure of support to the ongoing response effort,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, I have been inspired by the hard work and outpouring of support from the local community and around the country. The people of the Gulf Coast -- even at a time of considerable anxiety and anger -- have stepped up to assist the response and lift each other up. Their example ...

Today at 3:30 the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan and U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen—who was today designated National Incident Commander for the administration’s ongoing response to the BP Oil Spill—will brief media this about ongoing efforts to contain the spill and minimize associated environmental risks. National Security Staff Chief of Staff Denis McDonough will moderate the call. Dial in: 800-779-2598 Password: RESPONSE (73776673)

Oil Rig Catches Fire Off Coast of Mexico and Louisiana - Days After Nation Celebrates Earth Day Just when thousands celebrated Earth Day an oil rig catches fire off the coast of Mexico leaving 11 workers missing, seventeen workers suffering injuries including burns, smoke inhalation, and broken bones. Four people remain in critical condition. The crew of the Deepwater Horizon rig were performing exploratory drilling procedures some 50 miles off the Louisiana coast when the sudden explosion occurred. Environmental concerns have officials wondering if the crude oil on board the platform could begin leaking into the surrounding waters, reaking havoc on the environment. The Coast Guard's Petty Officer Katherine McNamara told reporters a day after the explosion that more than 300,000 gallons of oil per day could be spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.  An AOL news report tells a different story  featuring the Coast Guard's Rear Adm. Mary Landry giving ...