Government Seeks Delay in Moratorium Ruling

WASHINGTON -- The Obama administration on Wednesday night asked a judge to delay a court ruling that overturned a moratorium on new drilling in the Gulf.

In court papers, the Justice Department said that it is seeking the delay while appealing the decision of U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman.

The Justice Department says a delay would serve the public interest by eliminating the risk of another drilling accident while new safety equipment standards and procedures are considered. The papers were filed with the U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

On Tuesday, Feldman overturned an Obama administration moratorium, saying the government simply assumed that because one deep water rig exploded, the others pose an imminent danger too.