House passes bill making it easier to drill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-controlled House passed the first of three bills Thursday aimed at speeding up offshore oil and gas drilling a year after the largest offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

In a 266-149 vote that included 33 Democrats in its majority, the House approved a bill that would force the federal government to conduct three lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and one off the Virginia coast within a year, or by June 2012. Lease sales are the first step in a multi-year process that can culminate in drilling.

The Obama administration had postponed the sales after the massive Gulf oil spill, saying it needed time to conduct more thorough environmental reviews, to account for the blowout's effects on the Gulf ecosystem and to incorporate lessons learned from the disaster.

A major federal investigation into what caused the accident has yet to be released.

Rep. Doc Hastings, R-Wash., the House Natural Resources Chairman and the bills' sponsor, said Thursday the legislation would reverse actions by the Obama administration that have blocked or hindered drilling at a time of rising gasoline prices.

"The pain being felt today has been exacerbated by the actions of the Obama administration," Hastings said. He said opening up more areas to drilling would send a signal to the world market that the U.S. is serious about reducing its dependence on foreign oil and lower pump prices.

Hastings' two other measures — which would speed up decision-making on drilling permits and mandate that the government sell offshore leases where the greatest oil deposits are — are expected to be voted on next week.

None of the three measures is likely to pass the Senate, where Democratic leaders are more focused on ending tax breaks received by profitable oil companies. The White House said Thursday it would oppose two of the three bills because they would hastily open up areas to offshore drilling based on outdated environmental analyses and put unnecessary constraints on the government's ability to ensure permits meet new safety standards.

The environmental reviews, which covered the area where BP was drilling at the time of blowout, predicted and analyzed spills much smaller than what occurred last April. However, the government requires additional analysis before companies explore for oil, and again before they start producing oil and gas.

House Democrats mounted an unsuccessful attempt Thursday to force their own vote on repealing billions of dollars in subsidies for the five biggest oil companies. They also failed to get support for a measure to guarantee that all oil and gas produced from the leases would be sold in the U.S.

"Together, these bills will not relieve pain at the pump, but they will increase the chances of another ? disaster, costing lives, livelihoods, and hurting some of our precious natural resources," said Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo. "Why? Because that is what Big Oil wants."

The three Gulf sales are currently scheduled to occur by mid-2012, and one could occur by the end of this year. The sale off Virginia at the earliest would happen in 2017.

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Feds: Bomb plotter claimed he was making 'fertility medicine'

Najibullah Zazi, who pleaded guilty last year, is awaiting sentencing. His uncle is now on trial. STORY HIGHLIGHTSNajibullah Zazi pleaded guilty last year to a plot to detonate explosives in subway stationsHis uncle is quoted in court papers as saying he asked Zazi about bottles of liquidsZazi told his uncle he was using chemicals to make a fertility medicineThe uncle has pleaded guilty to destroying evidence; liquids were poured down a drainRELATED TOPICSNajibullah ZaziTerrorism (CNN) -- A man who admitted a plot to blow up New York City subway stations with bombs planted in backpacks told his uncle that chemicals and other apparent bomb-making elements were "to manufacture a fertility medicine," according to court papers.

The uncle, Naqib Jaji, has pleaded guilty to his role in conspiring to destroy evidence in the case against his nephew, Najibullah Zazi. Zazi, who pleaded guilty last year to a plot to detonate explosives in subway stations in September 2009, is awaiting sentencing.

The uncle, Jaji, agreed to cooperate with the government as part of his guilty plea, according to federal court papers.

Jaji pleaded guilty in January, 2010, but the plea was kept under seal because prosecutors said they were worried about Jaji's safety. Prosecutors moved to unseal the plea this week.

Government documents quote Jaji as saying he allowed his nephew to live with him in Denver after his nephew returned from Pakistan with two other friends in 2008.

Around July 2009, "Jaji discovered gallon-sized bottles of toilet bowl cleaner in his garage, as well as an electronic scale, a protective mask, goggles, bottles of nail polish, and other bottles of a liquid substance in a cooler, " court papers state.

When Jaji challenged Zazi about the materials, he got an incredible explanation.

Zazi told his uncle "that he was using the chemicals to manufacture a fertility medicine," according to the government documents.

"The next morning, Jaji discovered that most of the items were gone."

The following month, Zazi moved out of his uncle's home. Prosecutors say Jaji later was told to get rid of any chemicals left behind in his home.

Court papers state several bottles of liquids were poured down a bathroom drain, and items including a protective mask and goggles were cut up and put in a dumpster.

Jaji is currently working as a taxi driver. The government, in a letter to the court, said he does not pose a risk and is subject to electronic monitoring.

Zazi's father, Mohammed Walid Zazi, is scheduled to go to trial in July in Brooklyn, New York.

Zazi co-defendant Zarein Ahmedzay also has pleaded guilty to his role in the plot. A third alleged plotter Adis Medunjanin has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial next January.

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Toyota making drastic production cuts after Japan quake, tsunami

By the CNN Wire Staff STORY HIGHLIGHTSToyota announces drastic production cuts in North America and ChinaThe company had already announced that it dropped production in Japan The cuts come amid difficulty in supplying parts after last month's quake and tsunami in Japan (CNN) -- Toyota has announced drastic production cuts in North America and China due to difficulty in supplying parts following the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Previously, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc. (TEMA), had said it would suspend production on Mondays and Fridays between April 15 and April 25. That will continue through June 3, the company said in a statement.

"During the same period, production will run at 50% on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday," the statement said.

In addition, Canadian production will be suspended for the week beginning May 23, and U.S. production for the week starting May 30.

No decisions have been made for production after June 3, according to Toyota Motor Corp.

"No layoffs are planned during this period," the statement said. "Team members will utilize nonproduction time for training and plant improvement activities."

"We are trying to continue production as much as possible and keep our work force intact in order to facilitate a smooth transition back to full production when all parts are available," said Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of TEMA.

Last month, Toyota told its U.S. plants to prepare to shut down because of parts supply problems.

Toyota employs 25,000 workers in North America. It operates nine plants in the United States in Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, West Virginia, California and Mississippi. It also operates three plants in Canada and one in Mexico.

In China, the company plans to go to 30% to 50% production from Thursday through June 3 because of difficulties delivering parts.

Toyota had already announced that it dropped production in its manufacturing facilities in Japan to 50%.

Officials said Tuesday that the drop in production would continue and that Toyota would stop production all together between the dates of April 28 to May 9.

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan on March 11, leaving thousands dead.

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