Petroleum group blasts White House for limiting offshore oil options

The American Petroleum Institute (API) recently criticized the Obama Administration’s move to permanently remove Arctic and some Atlantic offshore areas from future leasing auctions for offshore oil and gas exploration and development.

“Our national security depends on our ability to produce oil and natural gas here in the United States,” API Upstream Director Erik Milito said. “This proposal would take us in the wrong direction just as we have become world leader in production and refining of oil and natural gas and in reduction of carbon emissions."

Milito said blocking such access could be harmful to national security and energy prices.

"Fortunately, there is no such thing as a permanent ban," he said, "and we look forward to working with the new administration on fulfilling the will of American voters on energy production.”

Milito criticized the move as contrary to the intent of Congress, which he said created 1953's Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to make some of those areas available for exploration and development.

“We are hopeful the incoming administration will reverse this decision as the nation continues to need a robust strategy for developing offshore and onshore energy,” Milito said. “The U.S. offshore industry has a long history of safe operations that have advanced the energy security of our nation and contributed significantly to our nation’s economy.”