Oversight

Salazar to seek funding for drilling inspectors

Interior chief says he will request a fivefold increase, noting currently 62 inspectors are responsible for nearly 4,000 drilling activities in the Gulf of Mexico.

Oversight

Salazar: Oil drilling hiatus may be shorter

Interior chief left open the possibility that a six-month moratorium on deep-water oil and gas drilling may not last that long.

Oversight

Salazar: MMS has 'turned the ship'

Interior chief says department will have zero tolerance for ethical lapses at Minerals Management Service.

Oversight

Alaska senator urges restraint on spill reaction

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski hopes exploratory drilling qill still begin this summer off the coast of her home state.

Oversight

FAA reauthorization should fly through in June, says lawmaker

Some controversial items in House bill include language making it easier for FedEx workers to unionize.

Oversight

House Dems raise fears about another BP project

Lawmakers fear the Deepwater Horizon oil spill could foreshadow a larger tragedy at the Atlantis rig, which is operating in deeper waters off the Gulf coast.

Oversight

Obama to establish commission on oil spill as blame game heats up

BP and federal officials come under fire for not having a stronger plan to prevent and respond to a disaster.

Oversight

Interior chief says department shares responsibility for cleanup

Ken Salazar says efforts are underway to change culture at Minerals Management Service in wake of oil spill.

Oversight

Obama halts new offshore drilling but defends plan

Coastal state Democrats call on the president to reconsider drilling strategy in light of Gulf Coast accident and oil spill.

Oversight

Senate approves FAA bill but fight with House looms

The Senate’s version avoids contentious language, including a provision making it easier for FedEx workers to unionize.

Defense

Senators seek clean FAA bill

Extraneous provisions could erode bipartisan support for the measure, Commerce Committee leaders say.

Oversight

Mississippi governor seeks to help block EPA move

Haley Barbour is drafting a letter to governors asking them to support effort to block agency from regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.

Oversight

NOAA proposes new climate agency

Agency would be based on the National Weather Service.

Oversight

Democrats slam effort to block EPA from regulating emissions

Agency’s recent finding that greenhouse gas pollution endangers public health and welfare is the independent work of scientists and "should stand on its own," Democrats say.

Oversight

Interior Department tightens leasing rules

Changes include additional environmental analysis.

Oversight

EPA: Video takedown order was about ethics, not content

Employees are not allowed to use their position and work at EPA to lend credibility to their personal opinions, officials say.

Oversight

Yucca Mountain funding nears its demise

The Energy Department is slated to keep the project open on paper for a year while developing an alternative plan for storing nuclear waste.

Oversight

Answers sought on Minn. flight delay

Lawmakers contact Transportation, FAA officials over plane with 47 passengers that was left on the tarmac for several hours overnight.

Oversight

Republican senators put holds on two Interior deputies

GOP lawmakers are concerned about the nominees' stances on endangered species rules and Utah land use policies.

Oversight

Obama's pick for EPA deputy suddenly withdraws name

Jon Cannon says the scrutiny surrounding former foundation was a "distraction" to the agency.