Ben Geman | March 03, 2011 | Reposted from The Hill
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar spent Thursday morning parrying GOP allegations that the Obama administration is wrongly restricting U.S. oil-and-gas development — including more claims that the administration wants to force gas prices upwards.
Salazar appeared before the House Natural Resources Committee, where he repeatedly noted that U.S. oil-and-gas production has been on the rise and that vast areas are available.
His exchange with Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), below, was reflective of the combative tenor of the hearing:
Fleming slammed limits on deepwater Gulf of Mexico permits — the federal ban was lifted in October, but the first new permit under tougher standards was issued just three days ago — and the reduced pace of shallow-water permitting, claiming it is prompting the exodus of some rigs.
[Read more.]
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