Biden Imposes Ban on New Oil and Gas Drilling Across 625 Million Acres of Federal Waters
The executive order bans offshore drilling in extensive sections of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
On January 6, President Joe Biden announced a ban on new oil and gas drilling across more than 625 million acres of U.S. ocean territory, which includes regions of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the East Coast and the Pacific Ocean near the West Coast.
The president stated that the regions being protected from fossil fuel exploitation hold “relatively minimal potential,” which does not warrant the environmental, public health, and economic risks posed by new leasing and drilling operations.
“With the ongoing climate crisis impacting communities nationwide and our shift towards a clean energy economy, the moment is now for us to protect these coastlines for future generations.”
The prohibition on new oil and natural gas leasing has no time limit.
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A spokesperson for President-elect Donald Trump criticized Biden’s decision as “shameful,” arguing that it contradicts the public mandate given to President Trump to expand drilling and reduce gas prices. She asserted, “Rest assured, Joe Biden will fail, and we will drill, baby, drill.”
The American Petroleum Institute, representing the oil and gas sector, also condemned the decision.
Conversely, some environmental advocates praised Biden’s action.
“This is a monumental victory for our oceans!” exclaimed Joseph Gordon, the campaign director for the environmental organization Oceana. Gordon expressed gratitude to Biden for “heeding the concerns of coastal communities” opposing drilling and for contributing to the bipartisan legacy of coastal protection.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
