One might think that after the ecological apocalypse that British Petroleum visited upon the Gulf of Mexico and surrounding environs with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in April 2010, BP might harbor a healthy sense of shame about returning to that scarred region. Yeah, no.

In fact, BP will be back in the Gulf soon, thanks to a go-ahead granted by the Interior Department for the company to plunk a new exploratory well further out to sea and get back to drilling while the new Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement looks on. –KA

The Miami Herald:

In approving the drill permit, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said that BP met more stringent safety requirements devised by the federal government in the aftermath of the Deepwater disaster. The company also planned to follow even tougher voluntary standards that exceeded the government’s rules.

“This permit was approved only after thorough well design, blowout preventer and containment capability reviews,” said bureau Director Michael R. Bromwich.

At a depth of more than 6,000 feet, the proposed well is part of the company’s Kaskida oil and gas development drilling area in the Keathley Canyon located about 250 miles south of Lafayette, La.

Read more

Your support is crucial…

With an uncertain future and a new administration casting doubt on press freedoms, the danger is clear: The truth is at risk.

Now is the time to give. Your tax-deductible support allows us to dig deeper, delivering fearless investigative reporting and analysis that exposes what’s really happening — without compromise.

Stand with our courageous journalists. Donate today to protect a free press, uphold democracy and unearth untold stories.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG