U.S, Canada ban offshore drilling in the Arctic

Good job men! Arctic waters should be protected. Oil companies have ruined all other bodies of water. Arctic is the last one remaining that hasn't been ruined by greedy man.
Don't mess with the Arctic.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/obama-ban-offshore-drilling-arctic-atlantic-1.3905384

President Barack Obama on Tuesday designated the bulk of U.S.-owned waters in the Arctic Ocean and certain areas in the Atlantic Ocean as indefinitely off limits to future oil and gas leasing.

"Today, President Obama and Prime Minister Trudeau are proud to launch actions ensuring a strong, sustainable and viable Arctic economy and ecosystem, with low-impact shipping, science based management of marine resources, and free from the future risks of offshore oil and gas activity," the statement read.

The move helps put some finishing touches on Obama's environmental legacy while also testing president-elect Donald Trump's promise to unleash the nation's untapped energy reserves.

Obama is making use of an arcane provision in a 1953 law to ban offshore leases in the waters permanently. The statute says that "the president of the United States may, from time to time, withdraw from disposition any of the unleased lands of the outer Continental Shelf."

Environmental groups hope the ban, despite relying on executive powers, will be difficult for future presidents to reverse. The White House said it's confident the president's directive will withstand legal challenge and said the language of the statute provides no authority for subsequent presidents to "unwithdraw" waters from future lease sales.

The Atlantic waters placed off limits to new oil and gas leasing, which hold the volume equivalent of 31 Grand Canyons, stretches off the coast of New England south to Virginia.

The administration cited environmental concerns to justify the moratorium. The president also issued a statement noting the minimal level of fuel production occurring in the Arctic. Obama said just 0.1 per cent of offshore crude production came from the Arctic in 2015, and at current oil prices, significant production would not occur in future decades.

"That's why looking forward, we must continue to focus on economic empowerment for Arctic communities beyond this one sector," Obama said.

Still, industry officials objected to Obama's proclamation, calling it "last minute political rhetoric."

"Instead of building on our nation's position as a global energy leader, today's unilateral mandate could put America back on a path of energy dependence for decades to come," said Dan Naatz of the Independent Petroleum Association of America.

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In issuing a permanent ban, Obama appears to be trying to tie the hands of his successor. Trump has vowed a domestic energy revolution and is filling his cabinet with nominees deeply opposed to Obama's environmental and climate change actions.

Environmental groups were calling for a permanent ban even before the presidential election, but Trump's victory has provided greater urgency for them and for businesses that rely on tourism and fishing. Trump has said he intends to use all available fuel reserves for energy self-sufficiency — and that it's time to open up offshore drilling.

"This decision will help protect existing lucrative coastal tourism and fishing businesses from offshore drilling, which promises smaller, short-lived returns and threatens coastal livelihoods," said Jacqueline Savitz, a senior vice-president at the advocacy group, Oceana.

 

Mediocre job, men!

What about Russia?
Wouldn't it be better to have a whole circumference and not just half or a bit less?
And then I imagine there are minor claims such as Greenland/Denmark, Iceland, Finland, etc.

Moi

r > g

View attachment 47053
Got Mediocrity?
Across an immense, unguarded, ethereal border, Canadians, cool and unsympathetic,
regard our America with envious eyes and slowly and surely draw their plans against us.​

 

If one man puts it off limits, why can't one man allow drilling again.

 

I think America should be oil dependent on itself only. We shouldn't be at the beck and call of Middle Eastern nations controlling OPEC. Personally, I hope Trump turns this over and allows drilling. My two cents.

 

Then I hope you're prepared to go to international court on this. We've already been talking about this on political shows. What happens when Trump wants to drill in the Arctic? We have ways to slow him down, not necessarily stop him if he is that determined to do it. Just realize that doing so will make your number 1 trading partner and supplier of oil very angry.

 

Killing America one job at a time. Thanks Obama!

 

I live near the Southern and Indian oceans, both have plenty of offshore drilling and are pristine as (*)(*)(*)(*).

 

America's number one trading partner and supplier of oil should be America. Get angry, but like China, your nation can no longer bully us either. You'll either engage in diplomacy or you will not; but that will not affect us. We don't need Canada's permission or an international court's.

 

You rely on us for oil and hydro. We could bring you to your knees in the north east within a few days.

 

Sure.

 

Our main customers are the New England states, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Washington. What do you think happens if we were to stop selling you hydro during winter?

What do you think would happen if we cut off our oil supplies to you?

Like it or not we have leverage over you.

 

It is quite reasonable as per environmental impact assessments,
but if the demand of oil for self sufficiency would be paramount then I think the EO could be reversed with another EO,
mostly when the incoming administration have less or no regards about environmental tendencies.

 

What would happen? We would use our own resources. Please. Make good on the threat. Cut us off. Let us go. You think you have leverage on us, and maybe you did during the last 8 years in some fashion, but the point is: you don't anymore. We don't need you. Our divorce will make both our nations better.

 

LMAO. No, you still rely on us for a lot of things. You talk tough but money talks tougher.

 

I'm sure the op does not own nor ever uses an automobile, as that would seem rather hypocritical since it would mean he is part of the problem he is complaining about.

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Ummm... we take it from you and smack you back down for getting upitty. Sometimes big brother has to teach little brother where his place is.

 

I'm sure you could do that but it would come at a significant price. Canada has a lot of family out there. And friends. US has no family or friends. USA uses everyone and discards them when they are done with them.

 

Yeah. Just like Canada.

 

Don't you remember the disaster the Russians had with their arctic oil platform? 53 people were killed.

The world is awash in oil.. We don't need to drill in the arctic.

 

That's a cute move, but Trump will reverse it. Thankfully.

 

He might, but it would be a real stupid move. Tillerson would likely oppose him.

 

You just might want to read up on the things that the United States of America will do when it has got a president with backbone in the Oval Office with this nation's long term best interests in mind and then 'rethink' encouraging puny Canada from waving its tiny little 'stick' in the U.S.A.'s face. Obama would belly-crawl to any nation that gave us a middle finger because he was Obama. Trump is not Obama.

 

Oh..and what will that solve, you're only shooting yourself in the foot .

 

Russia is still drilling in the arctic.. small amounts of crude have been recovered, but its expensive and the environment is harsh.

 

I lived in the Northeast. In the states where I lived, we were not dependent on Canada for those items.