President Biden has announced measures to protect extensive areas of the U.S. ocean from future oil and natural gas leasing. This action covers the entire East Coast, parts of the Gulf of Mexico, Pacific coasts of Washington, Oregon, and California, as well as sections of the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska. The decision aims to safeguard over 625 million acres from offshore drilling due to potential environmental and economic risks outweighing limited fossil fuel resources.
Biden's administration highlights that nearly 40% of Americans live in coastal counties reliant on a healthy ocean for their economy. The move is intended to preserve these regions from oil spills and other impacts associated with offshore drilling.
The decision aligns with opposition from approximately 400 municipalities and over 2,300 elected officials across affected areas who have expressed concerns about offshore drilling's environmental, health, and economic threats. Governors along both coasts have voiced similar apprehensions.
In Alaska, protections for the Northern Bering Sea respond to longstanding requests from more than 70 coastal Tribes aiming to sustain vital ocean areas crucial for subsistence.
President Biden utilized his authority under Section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to issue Presidential Memoranda prohibiting future oil and gas leasing in these areas without an expiration date. This follows previous actions taken by Biden in January 2021 and March 2023 concerning Arctic Ocean protections.
The protected regions include:
- The eastern U.S. Atlantic coast and Eastern Gulf of Mexico: Approximately 334 million acres are safeguarded.
- The Pacific Coast along California, Oregon, and Washington: Nearly 250 million acres are protected.
- The remaining portion of the Northern Bering Sea Climate Resilience Area in Alaska: Protects 44 million acres crucial for wildlife migration.
These efforts contribute to the Biden-Harris Administration's climate agenda focusing on conserving natural wonders while supporting Tribal Nations' significance areas. They also aim at enhancing resilience against climate change threats.
The administration's record includes creating new national marine sanctuaries, advancing additional sanctuary designations, safeguarding fisheries, approving significant offshore wind projects, investing in coastal communities, and releasing a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan.
With this initiative, President Biden has conserved more than 670 million acres across lands and waters—an unprecedented achievement among U.S. presidents—supporting the America the Beautiful initiative targeting conservation goals by 2030.
