The Department of the Interior has cleared Noble Energy’s deepwater-drilling permit, the first issued since last year’s rig blast and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The approval comes after months of criticism from Republican lawmakers and the oil and natural gas industry. “While every permit is welcome news, tightening the screws on domestic oil and natural gas production during a time of increased demand and global uncertainty is a formula for disaster,” said Jack Gerard, president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute.  Read more- Wall Street Journal.