President Joe Biden is set to issue an executive order invoking the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently ban future offshore oil and gas development in parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This move is expected to be challenging for the incoming Trump administration to reverse, as the law does not grant explicit authority to revoke such actions without congressional approval.
Environmental and climate groups have been advocating for the protection of areas off the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, as well as other parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, to prevent future oil spills and reduce planet-warming pollution from fossil fuels. The planned executive order aims to provide permanent protections to these areas.
While President Trump also implemented a ban on offshore drilling during his term, Biden's decision is seen as a significant step towards environmental conservation. Energy analysts suggest that the ban may not have a substantial impact on US oil production, as there are existing offshore rigs in operation in the Gulf of Mexico.
The American Petroleum Institute criticized Biden's decision, labeling it a 'misguided approach' and emphasizing the benefits of offshore oil and natural gas production for the country's economy and energy security.
In addition to the offshore drilling ban, the Biden administration is expected to declare two new national monuments in California - the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California and the Sáttítla National Monument in Northern California. These designations come in response to calls from Native tribes to protect the land from energy development.
Since taking office, President Biden has focused on conservation efforts, having already conserved or expanded ten national monuments. The administration's commitment to environmental protection and sustainable energy practices continues to shape its policy decisions.
