Obama ‘indefinitely’ bars drilling in Arctic waters

Map of the Arctic withdrawal area.(Graphic courtesy of Bureau of Ocean EnergyUpdated 3:50 p.m.
President Obama today (Dec. 20) put nearly all waters in the U.S. Arctic off-limits for future oil and gas drilling. The White House announced the decision in conjunction with a similar statement from the Canadian government covering its Arctic waters.
The President used a rarely deployed power in the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to remove areas from leasing consideration for an indefini