In his latest effort to wield the power of his pen to overturn Obama-era environmental protections, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at opening huge swaths of the Atlantic and Arctic oceans to offshore drilling. The order calls for revisions of the current five-year leasing program (covering 2017–2022) that encompasses northern Alaska and the mid-Atlantic to the Southeast, and potentially the California coast. Trump wants to give oil and gas companies access to areas that President Obama permanently protected from drilling. In addition, Trump’s directive takes aim at safety rules that were put in place after the catastrophic BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. As if all that wasn’t enough, the order puts into question recently designated or expanded national marine sanctuaries and marine monuments, ones that harbor some of our country’s most sensitive and valuable ocean areas.
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Press Release
WASHINGTON - President Trump signed an executive order today to open up large swaths of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans that former President Obama had removed from oil and gas leasing, along with other coastal areas.
Expert BlogNiel Lawrence
President Trump is issuing an Executive Order to promote oil and gas drilling off America’s beaches and coasts. This shapes up as a major belly flop. Or man overboard. Pick your metaphor.
Expert BlogUnited StatesMichael Jasny
Trump's executive order will open up our oceans to Big Oil—making life difficult or inhospitable for animals residing in the sea.
Expert BlogAlexandra Adams