US Senate yesterday approved to lift a quarter-century ban on offshore oil and gas drilling. President George W. Bush is expected to sign the measure.

Senators approved a 630 billion dollars spending bill by the 78-12 vote. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved the same bill which dropped the offshore drilling bans.

In the past 27 years, Congress has passed drilling bans on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts each year because of environmental concerns and pressure from some coastal states worried that drilling might hurt the tourism industry.

However, President George W. Bush has repeatedly urged Congress to lift legislative restrictions on offshore oil drilling to help address rising fuel costs.

Bush lifted an executive ban on offshore oil drilling in July. There are two prohibitions on offshore drilling, one imposed by Congress and another by executive order signed by former President George H. W. Bush in 1990.