President Obama bans offshore drilling in portions of Arctic and Atlantic waters indefinitely
- 7 years ago
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama has invoked a provision in the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to indefinitely block drilling in millions of acres of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, a move that is unlikely to be reversed by President-elect Donald Trump when he takes office.
According to a statement published by the U.S. Department of Interior, President Obama’s withdrawal decision protects 31 canyons in Atlantic waters, extending from the coast of New England to Virginia.
The Arctic withdrawal encompasses the entire Chukchi Sea and large portions of the Beaufort Sea, leaving just about 2.8 million acres between Kaktovik and Utqiaġvik for oil production.
However, Alaska’s three-member congressional delegation sharply criticised the withdrawal plan.
“President Obama has once again treated the Arctic like a snow globe, ignoring the desires of the people who live, work, and raise a family there,” Los Angeles Times quoted Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as saying. “I cannot wait to work with the next administration to reverse this decision”.
Canada also imposed a five-year ban on all oil and gas drilling licensing in the Canadian Arctic, but this decision will be reviewed every five years.
According to a statement published by the U.S. Department of Interior, President Obama’s withdrawal decision protects 31 canyons in Atlantic waters, extending from the coast of New England to Virginia.
The Arctic withdrawal encompasses the entire Chukchi Sea and large portions of the Beaufort Sea, leaving just about 2.8 million acres between Kaktovik and Utqiaġvik for oil production.
However, Alaska’s three-member congressional delegation sharply criticised the withdrawal plan.
“President Obama has once again treated the Arctic like a snow globe, ignoring the desires of the people who live, work, and raise a family there,” Los Angeles Times quoted Sen. Lisa Murkowski, chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as saying. “I cannot wait to work with the next administration to reverse this decision”.
Canada also imposed a five-year ban on all oil and gas drilling licensing in the Canadian Arctic, but this decision will be reviewed every five years.