President Joe Biden signed executive orders Monday banning oil and gas drilling in federal waters along the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as parts of the Gulf of Mexico. The move, aimed at protecting coastal ecosystems, marks one of the administration’s most significant environmental actions.
Biden’s decision, made under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, reflects long-standing opposition to offshore drilling from coastal communities. “Drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation’s energy needs,” Biden said in a statement. He emphasized the need to transition to a clean energy economy and protect coastal areas for future generations.
The executive orders follow a precedent set by former President Barack Obama, whose similar actions were upheld by federal courts after a rollback attempt by Donald Trump. Any reversal of Biden’s ban would require Congressional approval, a significant hurdle as Trump prepares to assume office again this month. Trump has vowed to expand oil and gas production, calling Biden’s move “political revenge.”
Offshore Drilling Ban: Impact on New Jersey
The ban eliminates the possibility of oil rigs off the Jersey Shore, a scenario that has drawn bipartisan opposition in the state for decades. Concerns about the devastating effects of oil spills on New Jersey’s tourism and seafood industries have united leaders across party lines.
The state has seen exploratory drilling in the past, with 43 wells drilled off the coast between 1976 and 1984, though no significant oil or gas deposits were found. In 2018, Gov. Phil Murphy signed a law banning drilling in state waters. However, federal waters remained a potential target until Biden’s action.
Rep. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., who represents Shore communities, praised the ban, recalling his efforts to stop offshore drilling since entering Congress in 1988. “If you live along the Atlantic coast, your economy and well-being could be damaged by an oil spill,” Pallone said. He added that the environmental and economic risks far outweigh any potential energy gains.
New Jersey has experienced oil spills in industrial estuaries like the Delaware River, with the most recent major spill occurring in 2004 when the Athos I tanker leaked over 260,000 gallons of oil. Biden’s ban aims to prevent similar disasters in coastal waters.
National Opposition to Offshore Drilling
Governors from all Atlantic Coast states and roughly 400 municipalities have supported a drilling ban, citing environmental and economic risks. Biden echoed these concerns, rejecting the notion that energy needs and environmental protection are mutually exclusive.
The Wildlife Conservation Society applauded the ban but urged the administration to finalize the designation of the Hudson Canyon, off the Jersey Shore, as a National Marine Sanctuary. Advocates argue that such a designation would provide long-term protections and promote sustainable use of the area’s resources.
Despite Biden’s actions, Trump’s incoming administration could attempt to stall or reverse aspects of the protections, setting the stage for future battles over U.S. energy policy.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.