"U.S. To Tighten Reviews for New Offshore Drilling Plans"

"The Obama administration said Monday that it would require significantly more environmental review before approving new offshore drilling  permits, ending a practice in which government regulators essentially rubber-stamped potentially hazardous deepwater projects like BP’s out-of-control well.

The administration has come under sharp criticism for granting BP an exemption from environmental oversight for the Macondo well, which blew out on April 20, killing 11 workers and spewing nearly five million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico.

The more stringent environmental reviews are part of a wave of new regulation and legislation that promises to fundamentally remake an industry that has operated hand-in-glove with its government overseers for decades."

John M. Broder reports for the New York Times August 16, 2010.

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"Interior Department Limits Use Of Environmental Waivers" (Reuters)