Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that the Arctic would be put off-limits to offshore drilling in the five-year leasing plan from 2017-2022:
“Drilling in the Arctic is the height of irresponsibility. I’m pleased that Secretary Jewell and President Obama took this step to protect our climate and our environment with today’s announcement. It is more important today than ever for President Obama to do everything in his power before he leaves office to help us prevent climate catastrophe, and I thank him for using his power to protect some of our most fragile environments.”
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