Community | July 14, 2008 | 8 comments

Bush lifts offshore drilling ban

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George W Bush has lifted an executive ban on drilling for oil in most US coastal waters, and has urged lawmakers to follow suit.

He wants Congress to end its separate ban on drilling, in order to reduce US dependence on oil imports.

"Now the ball is squarely in Congress' court," he said, adding that it was "time for action". Bush added: "The American people are watching the numbers climb higher and higher at the pump and they're waiting to see what the Congress will do."

Environmentalists have reacted with alarm to Mr Bush's call, saying offshore drilling would take at least a decade to have any effect on oil supply and would exacerbate climate change. And congressional Democratic leaders oppose ending the drilling ban.

They point out that oil companies already have 68 million acres under government leases they can drill.

Republican John McCain is in favour of offshore oil drilling, whereas his Democratic rival, Barack Obama, opposes it.
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