The Trump Administration, inviting a Political backlash from Coastal State Leaders, on Thursday proposed to Open for Exploration the largest Expanse of the Nation’s Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Reserves ever offered to Global Energy Companies.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said the Draft Five-year Leasing Plan would commit 90% of the Nation’s Offshore Reserves to Leasing, with 45 Lease Sales proposed in 25 of 26 areas off the Nation’s Coastlines between 2019 to 2024.
Twelve Leases are proposed for the Gulf of Mexico, and 19 are proposed for Coastal Alaska. Leases are proposed for Three Interior Department planning areas off the California Coast, Interior Department Officials said. “This is a start on looking at American energy dominance and looking at our offshore assets and beginning a dialogue of when, how, where and how fast those offshore assets could be or should be developed,” Zinke said in a Conference Call with Reporters. “Nobody is better at producing clean, quality, responsible energy than the U.S.,” said Zinke. “Clean, reliable, abundant and affordable energy is what’s driving our economy.”
Zinke said the Revenue raised by the Lease Auctions would be Invested in Renovating National Parks. He said the Interior Department would not Shortcut Federal Environmental Requirements for Assessing the Environmental consequences of the Exploration and Drilling Plan.
The Administration’s Drilling Plan already has drawn sharp criticism from Coastal State Leaders. Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott said the Plan to Open Deep Ocean Reserves off his State’s Coastline “is something I oppose.” Scott said he requested a Meeting with Zinke to “discuss the concerns I have with this plan.”
The Interior Secretary said there would be wide Consultation and Debate with State and Congressional Leaders before any Plan is finalized. But he emphasized the Administration’s conviction that expanding Domestic Fossil Fuel Production relieves the Risk of relying on Imported Oil, and will generate New Wealth and New Jobs. “It’s about our workforce and the chance to be part of the American experience. Our advantage is energy,” He said.
Zinke late last year put into place a number of Steps to make it easier to Lease and Explore the Onshore and Offshore Oil and Gas Reserves Owned and Managed by the Federal Government. One of those Measures was reversing Safety Measures and Requirements for installing Safety Equipment that were put in place by the Obama Administration following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon Explosion and Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Offshore Oil Rigs in the Gulf of Mexico produce about 1.5 Million Barrels of Oil Daily, or 15% of Total U. S. Production.
It is time we wean ourselves off Fossil Fuels and build up are Renewable Energy Resources. Part of this process, is the Retraining of Fossil Fuel Workers to the new Renewable industries. I think it's time to concrete over our Coal Mines.
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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