Vitter, Boustany Call For Quicker, More Consistent Drilling Permit Process

Two of our locally elected officials tell President Obama to speed up the drilling permit process.
In the aftermath of Obama's Jobs Speech last week, Senator David Vitter and Congressman Charles Boustany wrote separate letters to the President,  both calling for a quicker, more consistent permitting process for rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Vitter points out an article on platts.com, where an investment bank says 20 deepwater drilling rigs would leave the Gulf if U.S. regulators don't accelerate permitting. Boustany, in his letter, points to Republican-backed legislation already passed in the U.S. House, requiring the Secretary of the Interior to decide whether to issue a permit within 30 days of getting an application.