Obama administration reverses course on southeast Atlantic drilling plans

The Obama administration will not allow oil drilling off the southeast Atlantic coast.

(Image credit: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for SXSW)

The Obama administration has announced it will not allow oil drilling off the southeast Atlantic coast following pressure from communities ranging from Georgia to Virginia. President Obama had previously planned for offshore drilling, but drew criticism from environmentalists.

The reversal of the decision has raised many eyebrows. "If this is true, it's a great day for the Atlantic coast, our beaches, and the coastal economy that depends on it," Rachel Richardson, the director of the drilling program at Environment America, told The New York Times before the announcement was confirmed. "This moment has come because Atlantic coast communities, businesses, and citizens have all spoken up to protect their beaches, treasured marine life and President Obama listened."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.