Drilling Ban Defended by U.S., Foes Seek to Uphold Court Order
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The U.S. defended its moratorium on deep-water drilling in the Gulf of Mexico as offshore oil- services companies asked an appeals court to uphold a New Orleans judge’s decision blocking enforcement of the ban.
The U.S. banned drilling in waters deeper than 500 feet in May after the BP Plc oil spill. U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman barred enforcement of the government moratorium on June 22 after Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. and other companies sued, claiming that it would cause irreparable economic harm. The federal government issued a new ban on July 12.