By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-907916.mp3
Dallas, TX – Texas Senator John Cornyn says he's encouraged that the Obama administration may be open to ending the moratorium on new deepwater drilling before six months. KERA's Shelley Kofler has more.
Senator Cornyn was among Congressional members from Gulf Coast states who met with Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Wednesday.
Cornyn says Salazar is open to ending the deepwater drilling moratorium before six months if those involved can design new safety measures that will protect against further explosions and leaks.
Cornyn: One congressman suggested testing of the blowout preventers and these particular wells the very preventers that failed. And possibly having the oil companies post a bond that would be available if there were a problem. He did seem open to some development of wells that had been drilled to total depth and I think that seems positive
Gulf coasts states have warned that thousands of jobs will be lost if the moratorium remains in place as proposed. Drilling rigs are already preparing to move to other waters. Republican Congressman Pete Olson from Sugarland Texas has introduced legislation to end the drilling ban.