President Donald Trump signed an order Friday morning rolling back restrictions President Barack Obama imposed late last year on offshore oil leasing in the Arctic.
The entire Alaska delegation was at the White House for the signing, and Trump gave Sen. Lisa Murkowski the pen.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters the Trump’s order will reverse Arctic withdrawals Obama signed in the final weeks of his presidency.
“And generally I can tell ya’, all of us should get worried about last minute actions from an administration,” Zinke said.
Obama signed and order in December to withdraw much of the Arctic, and parts of the Atlantic, from leasing for “a time period without specific expiration.” Environmentalists say the section of law Obama used, known as 12-a, doesn’t allow for a reversal. They claim it amounts to permanent protection. A legal challenge is almost inevitable.
Zinke said Trump’s order will also instruct him to review the five-year offshore leasing plan.
In November, President eliminated the Arctic from that plan. Zinke said he has two years to conduct the review and the current plan will remain in effect for now.
