Obama may use old law to try to thwart energy production on his way out

Bloomberg:

President Barack Obama is preparing to block the sale of new offshore drilling rights in much of the U.S. Arctic and parts of the Atlantic, a move that could indefinitely restrict oil production there, according to two people familiar with the decision.

Obama will invoke a provision in a 1953 law that gives him wide latitude to withdraw U.S. waters from future oil and gas leasing, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the decision had not been announced. Until now the law has been used sparingly to permanently preserve coral reefs, walrus feeding grounds and marine sanctuaries.

Coming in the waning days of his administration, Obama’s move -- which could come as soon as Tuesday -- responds to a clamor from environmental activists who have looked for a way to lock in protections before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Related actions by Canada may be announced at the same time, the people said.

A White House spokesman declined to comment.

Using the so-called 12(a) provision to keep drilling out of big chunks of the nation’s territorial oceans is sure to draw a legal challenge, and there is scant legal precedent on the matter. Trump may rescind Obama’s order, but the statute doesn’t include a provision for reversal and that action may take years to work its way through court.

"Congress didn’t give the president that power to undo a withdrawal," said Niel Lawrence, Alaska director of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Trump may claim it. And it may even get upheld."
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It would be just another instance of how the Obama administration has colluded with the anti-energy left to thwart US energy production.  It is the kind of move that OPEC and adversaries like Russia would like to see.  It is a misuse of the statute and will harm US national security.