Moratorium on Gulf of Mexico oil drilling is lifted
The administration has been under pressure from the industry and others in the region to lift the ban on ground it has cost jobs and damaged the economy.
A federal report said the moratorium likely caused a temporary loss of 8,000 to 12,000 jobs in the Gulf region.
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Hide AdWhile the temporary ban on exploratory drilling is lifted immediately, drilling is unlikely to resume straight away.
Michael Bromwich, director of the agency that oversees offshore drilling, yesterday said it would take "at least a couple of weeks" after the ban is lifted before permits are approved.
US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said that new rules imposed after the BP spill have strengthened safety measures and reduced the risk of a catastrophic blowout.