Why was offshore drilling banned in 1981?
Offshore oil drilling was banned on the Outer Continental Shelf in 1981. Congress created the moratorium that prevented drilling after a massive oil spill and renewed the bill every year until 2008.Oil SpillThe most cited reason for the ban was an oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, on Jan. 28, 1969. More than 3 million gallons of oil spilled and covered more than 30 miles of the coastline.Department of the InteriorThe ban in 1981 only affected some areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. Starting in 1982, Congress went through the Department of the Interior to add more and more areas to the banned area list. By 2008, roughly 85 percent of the OCS was included.Ban ExtensionAs part of an extension of the offshore drilling ban, the first president Bush issued a presidential directive in 1990 that withdrew more areas from offshore drilling. In 1998, President Clinton extended the restrictions through 2012.Environmental IssuesOffshore drilling beneath the ocean floor releas
