House GOP bill would force Obama’s hand on offshore drilling

Industry groups, Republicans, and drill-state Democrats want faster action on permits for Gulf deepwater projects that were subject to a formal ban until October. (They also want sped-up approvals for shallow-water projects that weren’t covered by the moratorium.)

But Interior Department officials say the BP disaster has bred the need for more careful scrutiny of spill response and containment plans, among other aspects of permit applications. Interior is also seeking a major increase in funding for its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, in part to enable an increase in staffing for permit reviews.

The text of the bill introduced Monday notes the United States’ heavy spending on oil imports and the sizeable domestic reserves believed to exist in untapped areas offshore.

It notes that Interior has implemented reforms to ensure safe development, and now the resumption of development is “imperative” to economic recovery and energy security.

Co-sponsors include Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Dan Burton (R-Ind.) and several Gulf Coast lawmakers, such as Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.).