Obama bans oil drilling in Atlantic waters

The Obama administration won’t allow oil and gas drilling in Atlantic waters. The announcement from the US Department of the Interior bars drilling across the length of the mid and south […]

The Obama administration won’t allow oil and gas drilling in Atlantic waters.

The announcement from the US Department of the Interior bars drilling across the length of the mid and south Atlantic.

It stated the decision follows “significant potential conflicts” with other ocean uses such as the Department of Defense, commercial interests, current market dynamics, limited infrastructure and opposition from many coastal communities.

A total of 13 potential lease sales have been approved in six planning areas: 10 potential sales in the Gulf of Mexico and three potential sales off the coast of Alaska – the Chukchi Sea, Beaufort Sea and Cook Inlet.

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said: “We heard from many corners that now is not the time to offer oil and gas leasing off the Atlantic coast. When you factor in conflicts with national defense, economic activities such as fishing and tourism and opposition from many local communities, it simply doesn’t make sense to move forward with any lease sales in the coming five years.”

Last year, the Obama Administration rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline project.

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