In Last Month in Office, Obama Issues ‘Permanent Ban’ on Offshore Drilling

Donald Trump hasn’t even taken office yet, but the liberal obstructionism has already begun. Unsurprisingly, the charge has been led by Barack Obama.

Invoking a rarely used provision in federal law, the Obama administration on Tuesday announced a permanent ban on offshore drilling in broad parts of the Arctic and Atlantic coasts — a sweeping and controversial move that will help secure the president’s environmental legacy even as critics vowed to reverse it.

The ban relies on the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, which says the president “may, from time to time, withdraw” federal waters from oil and gas development that are not already leased. It was announced as part of a joint action with Canada, where Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also made long-term, though not permanent, commitments to protect the Arctic from drilling.

Obama cited the Arctic’s “unique ecosystem,” the risk of damage from a spill, the high cost of working in the remote and frigid region and concerns about climate change.

“It would take decades to fully develop the production infrastructure necessary for any large-scale oil and gas leasing production in the region – at a time when we need to continue to move decisively away from fossil fuels,” the president said in a written statement.

The announcement, coming one month to the day before Obama is to be succeeded by President-elect Donald Trump, is intended to help counter plans by the incoming administration to vastly expand energy extraction by fossil fuel companies.

This unprecedented move might be Obama’s most appalling move yet. Not only does it prevent America from easy energy independence, but it comes off as incredibly childish. Obama didn’t get what or who he wanted, so now’s he’s making it impossible for his successor to succeed.

It appears that his actions are illegal:

Source: LA Times