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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: steve harris who wrote (134841)	8/28/2005 4:58:37 PM
From: JDN	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793851

OK, let me be the first to say it. You all remember when a bunch of politicians wanted Bush to OPEN UP our strategic reserve of oil to fight rising prices, and Bush replied, "nope, that reserve is for SHORTAGES not for price fixing" . Perhaps we ALL will be grateful to President Bush for not squandering our strategic reserve in a hopeless cause. But, will anyone ever admit it? jdn

To: steve harris who wrote (134841)	8/28/2005 5:38:35 PM
From: goldsheet	Respond to of 793851

> We can't have oil rigs off the coast of California though, too much potential environmental damage.... calreefs.org The oil and gas platforms offshore Southern California constitute the largest artificial reef complex on the Pacific Coast. Their locations and unique features make them excellent habitat for many species of fishes and invertebrates. Mature and thriving reef communities have established themselves on and around the underwater portions of these platforms. The oil industry began installing steel platforms for the development of offshore oil fields in Southern California in the late 1950's. Today 27 platforms remain out of the original number of 34 installed. The seven platforms no longer in service were completely removed from the seabed and disposed of onshore. Of the remaining 27 platforms, 23 are located in the federal waters under leases from the U. S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service and 4 are in state waters under leases from the California State Lands Commission. Detailed information on the federal platforms is provided at: mms.gov. The platforms are located between 1.2 and 10.5 miles from shore and in water depths from 35 to 1,198 feet. The platforms are made almost entirely of structural steel tubular beams of up to 6 feet in diameter. The structures weigh from 1,000 to 70,000 tons, depending upon water depth and are very stable and long-lived. Many of the platforms offshore California are in locations suitable as habitat for certain rockfish species, including overfished species such as bocaccio and cowcod. In addition to providing suitable habitat, most of the structures are not fished and act as de facto reserves. The average age of the California platforms is approximately 25 years, with the last installation occurring in 1989. Although the operator determines the economic life of these platforms, the MMS estimates that all of the remaining federal platforms will be decommissioned during the 2010 to 2025 timeframe. With a 3 to 5 year permitting process, it is possible that decommissioning planning and permitting will start within the next few years. Current regulations that govern decommissioning of offshore platforms require that the platforms be completely removed. The process of removal will completely destroy the habitat that exists around these structures and kill most or all of the fishes that live there. When four small platforms were removed in 1996 (water depths from 60 to 140 feet) over 2000 tons of marine life were removed from the platform legs and disposed of in local landfills.