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Moratorium on deepwater drilling to be extended; new industry rules coming

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President Obama will announce Thursday that he is extending a moratorium on new deepwater drilling for six months in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, a White House aide said.

In remarks about the just-completed monthlong review of drilling by the Interior Department, Obama will also announce new safety and oversight regulations for the drilling industry.
The president will cancel Virginia offshore leasing due to environmental and Defense Department concerns. As revealed Wednesday night by an administration official, the Interior Department has also decided to postpone new Arctic exploratory drilling until at least 2011.

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Interior Secretary Ken Salazar briefed Obama on the drilling review and its recommendations Wednesday night.

-- Jim Tankersley in Houma, La.

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