Some disturbing news is finding its way out of Washington, DC. At a recent closed-door meeting with the National Ocean Industries Association, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told attendees that the administration is working on an Executive Order that will give oil companies more opportunities for offshore drilling throughout the United States, including the Atlantic. Secretary Zinke did not provide details on when the Executive Order will be signed, but there is reason to believe it will be soon.
The order is expected to begin the process of revoking President Obama's indefinite withdraws of most Arctic waters and portions of the Atlantic from offshore drilling activity. It is also expected to restart the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing Program process which was completed by the Obama administration in the fall of 2016 and did not include proposed lease sales in the Atlantic or Arctic regions. By restarting the OCS Leasing Program, the Trump Administration could push expanded lease sales in regions left out of the Obama plan. The move would be unprecedented.
The order is expected to begin the process of revoking President Obama's indefinite withdraws of most Arctic waters and portions of the Atlantic from offshore drilling activity. It is also expected to restart the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Leasing Program process which was completed by the Obama administration in the fall of 2016 and did not include proposed lease sales in the Atlantic or Arctic regions. By restarting the OCS Leasing Program, the Trump Administration could push expanded lease sales in regions left out of the Obama plan. The move would be unprecedented.
Fortunately, the process of removing Atlantic and Arctic protections and creating a new OCS Leasing Program are long ones with opportunities for public input at both the state and national levels. ACT is already working with our national and local partners to prepare a rapid response and will be monitoring the situation in DC closely, so please stay tuned for details.
In the meantime, please consider calling your congressional representative and encourage them to take a stand against any oil and gas developments off our coast.
You can also support ACT with a donation. Our advocacy campaigns are largely funded by individual contributions from people like you and every little bit helps. Please consider making a donation.
In the meantime, please consider calling your congressional representative and encourage them to take a stand against any oil and gas developments off our coast.
You can also support ACT with a donation. Our advocacy campaigns are largely funded by individual contributions from people like you and every little bit helps. Please consider making a donation.
