Update on the Permitorium in the Gulf II -- Nothing To Do With The Bakken

Update

November 16, 2011: House committee recommends opening up a bit of ANWR for drilling. Don't hold your breath. I find it incredible that this was a headline article at RIGZONE -- this is only a proposed bill at the committee level in the House; a long, long way to go to get to the President's desk. Don't hold your breath. 

November 16, 2011: op-ed piece; others agree -- the permitorium continues unabated.

Original Post

Link here.

Is it just me or do all we hear coming out of Washington is "plans"?

Here's another plan.

Oil and gas companies will have far greater access to energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico under a new policy proposal from the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The plan would set a timeline for the sale of oil and gas exploration rights for 15 locations over the course of the next five years. Twelve of these sites would reside in the Gulf of Mexico, while only three would be located in Alaska.

Parse that first sentence in last paragraph: "the plan" -- this is just a plan, no project, no actual work, just a plan; "would set a timeline" -- wow, we can kick this can down the road; "for the sale ... of exploration rights" -- again, no actual drilling; just setting a timeline for selling rights; "over the course of the next five years" -- half a decade. It looks like another "lost decade" in the Gulf.

And, then the kicker was in the first paragraph: this was just a "new" policy "proposal" from a department. Lots of time for the president to sit on it, and wait to make the decision until after 2012 elections. 

North Dakota state holds auctions every three months; doesn't seem like a whole lot of work in setting up a timeline.