If oil companies can't drill off the coast: can they sue the Gov for break of contract?

[annm4peace]

Even though we see the off coast drilling is damaging our fragile ocean environment.

and we call our Gov to halt off shore drilling.. I seem to recall something that Delay put in place, and CA Rep Richard Pombo either authored or voted for that said if an oil company did exploratory drilling and don't find oil, or stopped from drilling by environmental reasons, the Gov had to pay them for lost of money for the exploratory.

and also if the future Gov put down laws to stop drilling.

Anyone remember that? maybe they is why the Administration isn't stopping the drilling.

[AngryAmish]

1. Maybe. Have to look at the contract.

[Statistical]

2. All depends on the contracts.

Most contracts (not just for oil) are very complex with exemptions, and clauses, and stipulations.

Without seeing the exact contract it is impossible to say.

[unhappycamper]

3. If the Supreme Court can declare Corporations are persons,

they can make anything go away.

[meow mix]

4. destroyed our ocean, id be sending predators thru thier windows

worst attack on our nation yet.

[Ganja Ninja]

5. The most they could get is their lease money back. n/t

[roakes10190]

6. suing a governor

I don't believe you can sue the government without its permission.

[jtrockville]

7. Did their contract include the ability to clean up a spill?

If so, they've already broken their contract.

[KharmaTrain]

8. Yep...Lots of Billable Hours...

I would think that Congress could pass a bill stripping corporates of those leases and let them pound sand by making them void, but I doubt such a vote would pass. The lobbying, not only from big oil but almost every other major group would be fierce. You don't touch their corporate welfare without a fight.

I suspect if there's a ban we'll see a big court battle. The winners will be the lawyers as the complexity of the contracts and the money on the table will be too much.