President Barack Obama only has less than a month left in his term of office but he's still busy keeping things in order as chief executive. One of the things he crossed out on his to-do list is resolving the long-standing debate on oil and gas drilling in U.S.-owned northern waters.
The President issued an order on Tuesday, Dec. 20, that effectively bans offshore drilling of oil and gas in a large portion of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
Obama made use of a 1953 law that provides U.S. presidents with the authority to prevent the sale of offshore drilling and mining rights.
Private companies are no longer allowed to construct offshore sites in federal waters stretching from the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas in Alaska to New England and Chesapeake Bay in the Atlantic.
Protecting The Environment
Many observers believe that the move is Obama's attempt to keep these waters protected before his term officially ends in January.
President-elect Donald Trump has made it clear that he intends to use all of the United States' untapped energy reserves and exploit its fossil fuels once he assumes office. He has also criticized the science behind global warming and even threatened to revoke the Paris climate change agreement.
Trump's apparent disdain for climate science and his appointment of leading climate change skeptics to his cabinet has caused environmentalists to urge Obama to do everything in his power as outgoing president to protect the environment.
According to the White House, Obama's decision to ban oil and gas drilling in the Arctic is a strong, sustainable and viable option both for the economy and the ecosystem of the region. It also addresses the various native cultural needs and wildlife concerns while also keeping the ocean free from environmental threats such as oil spills.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed his support in blocking the sale of new drilling and mining rights in the Arctic.
While Canada said it will review the matter every five years, the White House announced that Obama's decision is permanent.
Trump supporters who might want to have the declaration reversed could find it difficult as the 1953 law prevents succeeding presidents to overturn such a decision.
Environment protection group Friends of the Earth (FOE) welcomed Obama's move to protect the country's northern waters. The group is also confident that having the decision overturned wouldn't be an easy task.
"No president has ever rescinded a previous president's permanent withdrawal of offshore areas from oil and gas development," the FOE said.
"If Donald Trump tries to reverse President Obama's withdrawals, he will find himself in court."
Opponents of the declaration, however, said that there are no such things as permanent bans. They believe the incoming Trump administration will be able to have it reverse.
