"Obama Administration Closes Off Two Avenues for New Arctic Drilling"

"WASHINGTON — The Obama administration moved on several fronts Friday to block new oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean, weeks after Shell said it would be walking away from the area 'for the foreseeable future.'

The Interior Department announced it was canceling government auctions of drilling rights in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas, previously scheduled for 2016 and 2017 respectively. At the same time, it formally rejected bids by Statoil and Shell for more time to search for crude under their existing Arctic leases.

The decisions ensure a long chill on oil development in U.S. Arctic waters and deal another blow to Alaska, which heavily depends on energy revenue and is still reeling from Shell’s pullout. Environmentalists celebrated the move as a victory for Arctic waters and the animals that thrive in them."

Jennifer A. Dlouhy reports for FuelFix October 16, 2015.

SEE ALSO:

"U.S. Blocks Alaskan Arctic Drilling for 2 Years" (New York Times)

"U.S. Cancels Sale of Two Arctic Oil and Gas Leases" (Wall Street Journal)

"U.S. Cancels Plans for Oil Leases in the Arctic Ocean" (McClatchy)

"Obama Pulls Plug on New Arctic Oil Drilling" (Politico)

"Interior: No More New Arctic Oil Leases for Remainder of Obama's Presidency" (USA TODAY)

"Why Alaskans Are Upset About Obama's Ban on Arctic Drilling" (Christian Science Monitor)

"Obama Cancels Arctic Oil Drilling Lease Sales, Citing Plummeting Industry Interest" (Newsweek)

"Obama Administration Blocks New Oil Drilling in the Arctic" (Guardian)