The revised schedule shows 34 offerings remaining in the five-year drilling plan adopted last July.

Community Board 4 approved the drilling plan, as did a half-dozen city agencies.

There is a chance that with concerted public opposition, this particular drilling plan can be stopped.

The drilling plan is in the 2004 budget resolution that the Senate began debating today.

It represents a potential shift in the Senate, which has in recent years resisted new offshore drilling plans.

There is also a shortage of engineers and geologists who find the oil and map out the drilling plans.

Over the last several days, the administration had declined to take a position on the drilling plan.

A senior Democratic aide, however, pointed to past Senate votes against the drilling plan.

The White House said the report addressed an earlier drilling plan, since revised.

Scores of children released from their classes came to the hearing to plead in song that the drilling plan be halted.