President Trump today issued an Executive Order directing the Interior Secretary to give full consideration to revising the nation’s offshore oil and natural gas leasing program to include lease sales for regions including but not limited to the Alaskan Arctic  The Order also rescinds the Dec. 2016 indefinite leasing withdrawals of most of the Alaskan Arctic and portions of the Mid- and North Atlantic from potential future energy leasing.

Interior Sec. Ryan Zinke said that the Order will “cement our Nation’s position as a global energy leader and foster energy security for the benefit of the American people, while ensuring that any such activity is safe and environmentally responsible” and “puts us on track for American energy independence.”  He added that “good stewardship of our lands and waters and responsible offshore development are not mutually exclusive.”