21 December 2016

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President Obama Bans drilling in Arctic and Atlantic oceans

President Obama Bans drilling in Arctic and Atlantic oceans

A 1953 law allows USA Presidents to block the sale of new offshore drilling and mining rights and makes it difficult for their successors to reverse the decision.

In 2015, just 0.1% of US federal offshore crude production came from the Arctic.

Obama used a little-known law called the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to protect large portions of the Chukchi and Beaufort seas in the Arctic and a string of canyons in the Atlantic stretching from Massachusetts to Virginia.

President Barrack Obama has banned new oil and gas drilling in most US-owned waters in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.

The announcement by the White House late in the afternoon was coordinated with similar steps being taken by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to shield large areas of that nation’s Arctic waters from drilling.

President Obama currently on holiday in Hawaii and with only a month left in office, said in a statement: “These actions, and Canada’s parallel actions, protect a sensitive and unique ecosystem that is unlike any other region on earth. They reflect the scientific assessment that, even with the high safety standards that both our countries have put in place, the risks of an oil spill in this region are significant and our ability to clean up from a spill in the region’s harsh conditions is limited.“By contrast, it would take decades to fully develop the production infrastructure necessary for any large-scale oil and gas leasing production in the region – at a time when we need to continue to move decisively away from fossil fuels.”

What will be effects of this ban?
1- Protect coastal tourism
2- Protect fishermen, fishing business
3-Protect Environment

White House officials described their actions to make the areas off limits to future oil and gas exploration and drilling as indefinite. Officials said the withdrawals under Section 12-A of the 1953 act used by presidents dating to Dwight Eisenhower cannot be undone by an incoming president.

Next President Trump will need to challenge this ban in courts if he wants to allow the drilling.

Excellent move by President Barrack Obama

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Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Tags – President Obama Ban Drilling Arctic Atlantic Oceans