Wednesday, January 10, 2018

DOI Will Remove FL Coast from Drilling Plan


The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) announced Tuesday that it would Remove Florida’s Coast from the locations it plans to allow for Future Oil Drilling, following Opposition from Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Environmental groups.

The DOI floated a Five-year Offshore Leasing Plan that Opens up nearly All Federal Waters to potential Drilling, drawing a fierce Backlash from Environmental Proponents. Scott spoke up immediately, asking for a Meeting with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.

After the meeting, Zinke said that Drilling would be "off the table" when it comes to Waters in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico and in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida.

Scott, who is expected to Run for the Senate this year, came out against the Plan when it was first announced last week, a departure from previous stance on the issue. When he first Ran for Office in 2010, he came out in Favor of Offshore Drilling, as long as it was done safely.

"Florida is obviously unique," Zinke said. "For Floridians, we are not drilling off the coast of Florida, and clearly the governor has expressed that it's important."

Thursday's Drilling Declaration immediately brought howls of Protest from Governors as far North as New Jersey and included Scott, a TrumpSsupporter who is strongly considering Running for the U.S. Senate this year against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.

In a Statement Tuesday, Nelson acknowledged the obvious Political Implications of Tuesday's Announcement. He called it a "political stunt." "I have spent my entire life fighting to keep oil rigs away from our coasts. But now, suddenly, Secretary Zinke announces plans to drill off Florida's coast and four days later agrees to 'take Florida off the table?' I don't believe it,' Nelson said. "This is a political stunt orchestrated by the Trump administration to help Rick Scott, who has wanted to drill off Florida's coast his entire career. We shouldn't be playing politics with the future of Florida."

Zinke cited Coastal Damage from Hurricane Irma in September and the ongoing Problems with Pollution around Lake Okeechobee as Factors in the Administration's Decision, which comes at the start of what is certain to be a raucous and volatile Election year in Florida.









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