Shutting down offshore drilling cannot be restarted instantaneously.

FORBES: Drilling Moratorium Will Further Burden Economy

"Ultimately, what this spill shows is that offshore oil drilling simply cannot be done safely, " Sen.

WSJ: Oil Industry Recommends Offshore Safety Measures After Gulf Spill

State Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms is a hearing examiner and cannot comment on the drilling permit application.

WSJ: Oil company eyes ND site near Roosevelt ranch

That led to debarment from new federal contracts, which means that BP cannot take out any new drilling leases in the gulf until the ban is lifted.

CNN: BP claims it now leads the way on safety

They cannot, however, guarantee a robust resumption of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico.

FORBES: A Decisive Moment for the Energy Industry: Political Agendas Roil Murky Waters Four Months after Gulf Drilling Ban Lifted

Representative PAUL BROWN (Republican, Georgia): America has been drilling for ice on Mars, yet we cannot drill for oil in America.

NPR: Energy A Priority As Congress Returns From Break