The Minerals Management Service has routinely issued drilling permits in the Gulf of Mexico since 2009 without obtaining other federal permits needed to account for the toll energy exploration would take on endangered species and marine mammals, according to documents obtained by the Washington Post.

Since January 2009, the MMS has approved 3 lease sales, 130 permits to conduct seismic activities, 219 exploration plans and 137 production plans without obtaining permits under either the Marine Mammal Protection Act or the Endangered Species Act. These permits, which are provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are required under law to account for the accidental harm exploration activities could cause to marine creatures, such as sperm whales.

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