The Atlantic | Can Trump Reverse Obama's Arctic Drilling Ban? The Atlantic Under that law, the president can sell leases for the right to mine federal oil reserves in the “outer continental shelf,” a legally defined area that begins three miles from shore and extends to the 200-mile international-waters boundary. (Under a ... Obama Bans New Oil and Gas Drilling Off Alaska, Part of Atlantic Coast US and Canada prevent oil drilling in Arctic waters Obama's move to stop arctic drilling forever could thwart Donald Trump's oil ambitions |