House Approves Offshore Drilling

The U.S. House of Representatives OK'd a measure by a vote of 236 to 189 to lift a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling. The bill would allow drilling as close as 50 miles from the coast, with seas further offshore than 100 miles opened up completely. The measure prohibits drilling around Georges Bank, a major commercial fishing area.

The bill is now due to go before the Senate. It will have to win the support of at least 60 out of the 100 senators in order to be passed, which is unlikely given the lack of Republican support.

Source:  Marketwatch, AFP