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President Joe Biden withdrew the entire Pacific Coast from all future oil and natural gas leasing Jan. 6.

The entire Eastern Atlantic coast, the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and Alaska’s Northern Bering Sea also were withdrawn.

The action is aimed at reducing environmental and economic risks and harms that would result from drilling, while protecting coastal communities, marine ecosystems and local economies — including fishing, recreation and tourism industries.

Industry activity low

Industry activity in the newly withdrawn areas has been very low and nothing in the president’s memoranda impacts rights under existing leases.

Overall, the areas encompass more than 625 million acres and represent the largest withdrawal in U.S. history.

The National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2024-29 includes three potential oil and gas lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico planning areas, which are not impacted.

The previous administration’s plan included 47 lease sales and potential oil and gas auctions in all planning areas subject to these withdrawals.

Offshore production

U.S. oil production was at an all-time high in 2024.

In fiscal 2023, the Outer Continental Shelf produced about 675 million barrels of oil and 796 billion cubic feet of gas, accounting for roughly 14% of all oil production and 2% of natural gas production in the U.S.

Nearly all of this production came from the Western and Central Gulf of Mexico, where industry has yet to produce on more than 80% of the 12 million acres already under lease.

Interior secretary statement

“President Biden’s actions today are part of our work across this administration to make bold and enduring changes that recognize the impact of oil and gas drilling on our nation’s coastlines,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

“Today, the president is taking action that reflects what states, tribes and local communities have shared with us — a strong and overwhelming need to support resilient oceans and coastlines by protecting them from unnecessary oil and gas development,” she added, in a news release.

In mid-December, nine U.S. senators, including Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon, and Adam Schiff of California, sent Biden a letter urging him to use his authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently protect unleashed and at-risk areas from offshore drilling.

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