US scraps Atlantic oil drilling plans

The Obama administration has scrapped plans to drill for oil and gas in Atlantic waters due to strong opposition in the United States.

Sally Jewell , Secretary of the Interior, and Abigail Ross Hopper, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, made the announcement on Tuesday as part of the Interior Department’s new offshore Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022.

The announcement follows “extensive public input” and the Department’s analysis of scientific data, and the new proposal only includes 13 potential lease sales with 10 in the Gulf of Mexico and 3 off the coast of Alaska.

Secretary Jewell said: “This is a balanced proposal that protects sensitive resources and supports safe and responsible development of the nation’s domestic energy resources to create jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Jewell added: “The proposal focuses potential lease sales in areas with the highest resource potential, greatest industry interest, and established infrastructure. At the same time, the proposal removes other areas from consideration for leasing, and seeks input on measures to further reduce potential impacts to the environment, coastal communities, and competing ocean and coastal uses, such as subsistence activities by Alaska Natives.”

The Interior Department will not pursue plans for oil and gas drilling in American Atlantic waters “due to current market dynamics, strong local opposition, and conflicts with competing commercial and military ocean users.”

Secretary Jewell continued: “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 defence, 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.”

The new proposal follows a joint statement by US President Obama and Canada’s Prime Minister Trudeau last week, which announced their principles for leadership in the Arctic region including a commitment to ensure that any commercial activities that take place in the Arctic will adhere to the highest environmental standards.

Jewell added: “We know the Arctic is a unique place of critical importance to many – including Alaska Natives who rely on the ocean for subsistence… As we put together the final proposal, we want to hear from the public to help determine whether these areas are appropriate for future leasing and how we can protect environmental, cultural and subsistence resources.”