deepwater horizon

The offshore drilling industry now has equipment on standby to respond to a similar emergency. But critics says stronger regulation is still needed to prevent another massive oil spill.

Wildlife protection groups are decrying the proposal as an attempt to gut a century-old law that protects birds, while industry groups say they have long been hamstrung by the threat of legal action.

The Interior secretary touted the revised rules as eliminating "unnecessary regulatory burdens while maintaining safety." But environmental groups said the move demonstrates oil industry influence.