Biden to Ban Drilling in Atlantic, Pacific

Keeping unleased land off the market would be hard for Trump to undo

- SCOTT PATTERSON

President Biden is planning to ban oil and gas drilling in certain federal waters in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans using a decadesold law that could make it difficult for the incoming Trump administration to reverse.

The decree, which could come as soon as next week, is expected to invoke the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which gives the president wide latitude to withdraw from consideration currently unleased lands in federal offshore waters, according to people familiar with the White House plans. The law has been invoked a handful of times and doesn't include a procedure for a new president to undo actions by a predecessor.