President Obama Further Builds His Climate Legacy by Permanently Protecting America’s Waters

On December 20th, in a joint announcement with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, President Obama permanently protected nearly the entire Arctic Ocean and a part of the Atlantic Ocean.

Obama, acting under his authority designated by Section 12a of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, has permanently protected 115 million acres of the Arctic Ocean, excluding only 2.9 million acres which have previously been leased near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. In the Atlantic Ocean, Obama protected 3.8 million acres, stretching from Massachusetts to Maryland. Today’s designations cannot be rescinded by future administrations.

Earlier in the year, the Obama administration released the final Five Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, which excluded the Arctic and Atlantic oceans. While that plan can be re-written, today’s action ensures future administrations cannot open the Arctic or large swaths of the Atlantic to drilling.

In response, Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune released the following statement:

“The Sierra Club applauds President Obama for taking historical action by answering the calls of coastal communities and millions of people across the country for our oceans to be permanently protected from the threat of offshore drilling. America’s waters are for all of us to enjoy, and they should never be threatened — especially by oil rigs.

“By removing the Arctic and Atlantic oceans from the five year plan, President Obama declared that the preservation of our waters from offshore drilling is paramount to protecting our beaches, the climate, and coastal economies. Today’s announcement reaffirms that fact and prevents future administrations from destroying our waters and coastal communities.

“President Obama continues to build a climate legacy without equal, and we look forward to continuing to work with him as he cements his legacy protecting our waters and our wild and iconic public lands.”