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Democrats target lax federal oversight of oil and gas drilling

Anchorage Daily News online -- 'SLAP ON THE WRIST': Critics say fines for infractions amounted to little.

By MATTHEW DALY
Associated Press

Published: February 8th, 2012 09:12 PM
Last Modified: February 8th, 2012 09:12 PM

WASHINGTON -- Federal policing of oil and natural gas on public lands is lax and inconsistent, with only 6 percent of violations resulting in monetary fines over 13 years, U.S House Democrats said in a report Wednesday.

Fines over that time totaled less than $275,000, an amount that the Democratic staff of the House Natural Resources Committee characterized as little more than "pocket change" for oil and gas companies. The report said federal regulators issued no fines in the period studied, February 1998 to February 2011, in eight of the drilling states, including Alaska.

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Submitted Feb 09, 2012 By: Nitewolf

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PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:7,707 Points:1,471,765 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 5:16:25 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Democrats= Blind leading the blind.
Meowmy All-Star Author Florida Posts:993 Points:278,110 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 1:22:10 PM Ignore Meowmy Report Abuse They need oversight. Just look at the Gulf oil disaster.
txrojo2005 Sophomore Author Austin Posts:232 Points:202,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 1:08:38 PM Ignore txrojo2005 Report Abuse So is government spending. Can we fix this one first?
RochBear Champion Author Minnesota Posts:9,113 Points:1,516,830 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 12:35:51 PM Ignore RochBear Report Abuse But what was the infaction? There are SO MANY rules, it's easy to be safe but still be in violation of some rule.
MOREDLEG All-Star Author Missouri Posts:743 Points:261,820 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 12:02:57 PM Ignore MOREDLEG Report Abuse I think the real reason the House Naturel Resource Committee is upset is because the only profitted a paltry $275000 bucks from the fines imposed.
MOREDLEG All-Star Author Missouri Posts:743 Points:261,820 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 12:01:09 PM Ignore MOREDLEG Report Abuse OK, so the EPA is an over inflated, under performing federal bureaucratic arm of the EXECUTIVE Branch, DEFUND THE EPA, and fire all the Bureaucrats.
bigmoo63 All-Star Author Kalamazoo Posts:883 Points:56,540 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 11:32:50 AM Ignore bigmoo63 Report Abuse More oversight. Or was it looking the other way for personal gain. Not suprised one bit.
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:1,837 Points:597,455 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 11:11:57 AM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse long overdue
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:2,422 Points:557,655 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 11:09:06 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse The public should be outraged about federal employees NOT doing their jobs, just like federal employees NOT doing their jobs in the oil industry safety. Whatever happened to those federal employees who took free trips, gifts from the oil industry ?
md11capt Champion Author Denver Posts:1,789 Points:387,285 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:56:27 AM Ignore md11capt Report Abuse BIG OIL supporters will whine about how this will drive oil companies into bankruptcy.
YaBassa All-Star Author Michigan Posts:599 Points:155,035 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Feb 9, 2012 10:26:58 AM Ignore YaBassa Report Abuse Eliminate all subsidies for oil companies and make them pay for their oil spill cleanups.