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What’s Missing from Biden’s Offshore Drilling Ban? The Western Gulf of Mexico

Summary

President Biden’s new ban on offshore oil and gas drilling excludes the western Gulf of Mexico, the area responsible for 97% of U.S. offshore oil production. The ban protects the East and West Coasts and parts of the eastern Gulf, citing risks from drilling, including catastrophic oil spills like the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster. While environmentalists welcome the ban, many criticize the exclusion of the western Gulf, labeling it a "sacrifice zone" for continued drilling and greenhouse gas emissions. Critics argue the decision leaves Gulf ecosystems and communities vulnerable to future oil spills and environmental harm.

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Environmental Justice
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Environmental Justice
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Climate
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