WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Obama administration released a revised draft of the 2017-2022 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The plan, which is expected to be finalized before President Obama leaves office, removes leasing in the Atlantic Ocean, which had been proposed in an earlier draft, but maintains new leasing in the Arctic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico.  In response, LCV President Gene Karpinski issued the following statement:

“This plan is a huge win for everyone who treasures the east coast’s beaches. We applaud the Obama administration for listening to the voices of Atlantic coast communities, businesses, and elected officials, who have stood up in opposition to risky offshore drilling because it’s a dirty and dangerous business that threatens our beaches, our communities and our climate.  We also appreciate that areas of the pristine, fragile and remote Arctic Ocean are being considered for protection and hope that this proposal results in Arctic drilling being taken off the table for good.  Our public lands and waters, such as these oceans, should be managed in the public’s best interest, which means not issuing permits to drill and burn oil that will make climate change worse and divert our focus away from our transition to clean energy.  We urge President Obama to seize this opportunity to expand his climate leadership by continuing to build on the progress made in this draft and permanently protecting the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans from drilling and by charting a course for Gulf communities to move toward 100 percent clean energy.”

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