WASHINGTON: The United States on Tuesday lifted a ban on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico imposed after the BP oil spill, but set operators tough new safety conditions, officials said. “We have decided it is now appropriate to lift the suspension on deepwater drilling for those operators that are able to clear the higher bar that we have set” for safety, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said. Shortly after the BP oil disaster began in April, President Barack Obama ordered a six-month freeze on deepwater offshore oil drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium was due to expire at the end of next month. The new rules, which were laid out by the Interior Department two weeks ago, toughen up companies' obligations on drilling and workplace safety, well containment and spill response, he said.They were crafted in the wake of the blowout on a BP deepwater well that killed 11 rig workers and sparked the worst oil disaster in US history. – Agence France
