布什撤销美国海域勘探石油禁令 --Andrew Ward

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布什撤销美国海域勘探石油禁令 by  Andrew Ward
  
2008年7月15日 星期二   

美国总统布什(George W. Bush)昨日撤销了一道禁止在美国海域勘探石油的行政命令，从而对美国国会增大压力，要求其批准终止针对海上钻探的28年禁令。

在美国公众对飙升的能源价格日趋担忧之际，面对11月的总统大选，美国共和党已将其扩大国内石油产量的努力，列为头号政策。

对开放美国海域进行新钻探活动的呼声，美国民主党迄今不予赞同，使其易受共和党的攻击。共和党指责民主党阻碍了美国降低进口石油依赖度的努力。
布什上月首次呼吁撤销禁令，但昨日的行动标志着终止禁令的第一步具体措施。

美国国会在法律层面制定了独立的禁令，在钻探活动开始之前，国会也必须撤销其禁令。

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油价会减缓升势

MingDeng

US President George W Bush has lifted a White House ban on offshore drilling to try to drive down soaring energy prices, a largely symbolic move unlikely to have any short-term impact on high fuel costs.

With prices at the pump over $US4 a gallon, Mr Bush pushed the Democratic-controlled Congress to expand offshore oil and natural gas drilling and give companies access to the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge despite fierce opposition from environmentalists.

"With this action, the executive branch's restrictions on this exploration have been cleared away," Mr Bush said.

"This means the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the US Congress."

Congress too has a ban on offshore drilling and while it expires on September 30, it could be renewed, making Mr Bush's move largely symbolic.

Additionally, government officials say it would take years for any oil to be produced in those areas.

"Now the ball is squarely in Congress' court," Mr Bush told reporters in the White House Rose Garden.

"The time for action is now."

He urged Congress to pass legislation to facilitate "responsible offshore exploration" and give states a say in whether drilling occurs.

High fuel prices and soaring food prices have irked American consumers in a presidential election year, when Mr Bush's Republicans are trying to keep the White House and wrest control of Congress back from Democrats.

Democratic leaders in Congress and environmentalists immediately condemned the move as having no short-term impact on soaring oil prices.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said initially the President wanted to move in concert with Congress but decided to go ahead alone after being rebuffed by Democratic leaders and because of a relentless upward rise in energy prices.

Democratic White House hopeful Senator Barack Obama's campaign quickly condemned the move.

"It would merely prolong the failed energy policies we have seen from Washington for 30 years," spokesman Bill Burton said.

Even if more Democrats in Congress backed lifting the ban, it would be unlikely they would buck their presidential candidate ahead of the November election.

Republican White House contender Senator John McCain, who reversed his previous opposition to offshore drilling, told reporters that he thought the decision was a "very important signal" and that "states should continue to decide."

MingDeng

Thanks for sharing!