Bush open to Congress plan to expand drilling

[Judi Lynn]

Bush open to Congress plan to expand drilling
12 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush on Wednesday said he was open to pending proposals in Congress to expand oil and natural gas leasing in federal waters provided it was at least 100 miles offshore.

He made the remarks as part of an interview with Florida newspapers in a round-table published on the St. Petersburg Times Web site.

About 3 million acres in the eastern Gulf of Mexico would be opened to oil and natural gas drilling under a bipartisan Senate bill but the legislation could face problems from Florida and other coastal lawmakers as it moves to the floor. There are also efforts in the U.S. House to expand the areas in which industry can drill, although it remains unclear whether high energy costs will soften longstanding resistance to the idea from voters.

Currently, only the central and western Gulf of Mexico and limited parts offshore Alaska are open to industry.
(snip/...)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060510/pl_nm/bush_energy_congress_dc;_ylt=A9G_RyEXEmJEXGEBBhQa.3QA;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

[sinkingfeeling]

1. A hundred miles offshore? That's international water. We only have

12 nautical miles of terrority beyond land.