Report: Oil drilling off Atlantic coast, Gulf coast of Florida to be banned

Reuters is reporting today that the Obama administration has decided to ban oil drilling off the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast of Florida.

The decision, which Reuters says was shared in a briefing to members of Congress, would apply for the five-year period between 2012-2017.

The report also says the administration won't approve leases off the coast of Alaska until 2012.

The Washington Post reports that the next Outer Continental Shelf drilling plan will also prohibit exploration activities off the Pacific coast.

If accurate, the decision to block drilling off the Atlantic coast and Florida's Gulf coast would be a reversal of the policy direction announced by Interior secretary Ken Salazar last spring.