Bush lifts ban on offshore drilling to ease energy bill

US PRESIDENT George W Bush lifted a White House ban on offshore drilling yesterday to try to drive down soaring energy prices, a largely symbolic move unlikely to have any short-term impact on high gasoline costs.

With prices at the pump over $4 (€2.50) a gallon, Bush pushed the Democrat-controlled Congress to expand offshore oil and natural gas drilling and give companies access to the Arctic Wildlife National Refuge despite opposition from environmentalists.

“With this action, the executive branch’s restrictions on this exploration have been cleared away,” Bush said. “This means the only thing standing between the American people and these vast oil resources is action from the US Congress.”