NorthAmOil: Biden's moves to block much offshore oil drilling permanently

Outgoing President Joe Biden is seeking to moving to ban all future offshore oil and gas drilling on the East and West coasts of the US, as well as in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and in the North Bering Sea in Alaska.

The move will halt new drilling in more than 625mn acres (2.53mn square km) of federal waters.

"My decision reflects what coastal communities, businesses and beachgoers have known for a long time: that drilling off these coasts could cause irreversible damage to places we hold dear and is unnecessary to meet our nation's energy needs. It is not worth the risks," Biden said in a statement announcing the decision.

But incoming President Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on January 20, is promising  to reverse Biden’s move. His pro-oil mantra has been “Drill, baby, drill!”

Biden has based his move on the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which states that a presidential action based on its authority is permanent. This is in contrast to a typical executive action, which can be undone by a successor.

Congress would have to vote to alter the law. Both houses are controlled by Republicans.

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