Obama blocks Chukchi, most Beaufort oil and gas development

Map of the Arctic withdrawal area.(Graphic courtesy of Bureau of Ocean EnergyPresident Obama has issued an order blocking future oil and gas development in the entire Chukchi Sea and nearly all of the Beaufort. Obama deployed a rarely-used provision of the offshore leasing law, known as 12-A. It allows a president to remove ocean areas from leasing consideration. The White House said the withdrawals do not reverse rights of current lease holders. The announcement was made in conjunction with Can