Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Expanded Ban on New Offshore Drilling Sites in Atlantic


Trump Expanded a Ban on New Offshore Drilling, Tuesday Sept. 8th, an Election-year Reversal likely to Appeal to Voters in Florida and other Coastal States. Two years ago, Trump had taken Steps to Vastly Expand Offshore Drilling from Coast to Coast.

“This protects your beautiful gulf and your beautiful ocean, and it will for a long time to come,” Trump said as he Announced the Expanded Drilling Ban.

Trump Signed a Memorandum Instructing the Interior Secretary to Prohibit Drilling in the Waters off both Florida Coasts, and off the Coasts of Georgia and South Carolina for a period of 10 years, from July 1st, 2022, to June 20, 2032.

The Existing Moratorium covers the Gulf of Mexico, and Trump said the New One would also Cover the Atlantic Coast.

Trump used the Event to Portray himself as an Environmental Steward and Contrast his Record against that of Democrat Joe Biden. But the Trump Administration has Overturned or Weakened numerous Regulations meant to Protect Air and Water Quality and Lands essential for Imperiled Species.

The Announcement could open Trump to Charges of an Election-year Flip-Flop given that in January 2018 he acted to Vastly Expand Offshore Drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans and he has Supported efforts to Boost American Energy Production to lessen Reliance on Foreign Sources.

Biden accused Trump of “conveniently” Changing his Mind. “Just months ago, Donald Trump was planning to allow oil and gas drilling off the coast of Florida,” Biden tweeted. “Now, with 56 days until the election, he conveniently says that he changed his mind. Unbelievable. You don’t have to guess where I stand: I oppose new offshore drilling.”

Trump offered himself as the Greatest Environmental President since Theodore Roosevelt. “Who would have thought? Trump is the great environmentalist,” the president said. “You hear that? That’s good, and I am. I am. I believe strongly in it."

But Trump has Rolled Back numerous Regulations designed to Protect the Environment, from Power Plant Emissions to Auto Fuel Standards to Clean Water. He withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord, a Global Agreement to Address the Emission of Heat-Trapping Greenhouse Gases.

The Environment has also been the Primary Target of Trump's Push to: Eliminate Regulations; Eliminating or Weakening Dozens of Rules that Protect the Air and Water, along with Lands Essential for Imperiled Species; while Reversing Obama-era Initiatives to Fight Climate Change.

Trump Replaced Obama’s Clean Power Plan aimed at Slashing Greenhouse Gas Pollution from Electric Plants and Eased Automobile Fuel Economy Standards. Under Trump, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Stripped Federal Protection from Millions of Acres of Streams and Wetlands. He lifted Restrictions on Oil and Gas Exploration in Sensitive areas and Shortened Environmental Reviews of Construction Projects such as Highways and Pipelines.

Jaclyn Lopez, Florida Director for the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund, said Floridians will Remember it was Trump who previously Proposed Opening the State to Drilling in the First Place. “Voters shouldn’t be duped by this cheap, last-minute maneuver," Lopez said in an emailed Statement. "It can’t even begin to make up for the aggressive efforts to expand dirty offshore drilling since Trump’s been in office.”

Energy Industry Groups said the Decision was the “wrong approach” for the times. “Offshore access is critical for growing U.S. energy leadership and providing affordable energy for American families,” said Lem Smith, Vice President of Upstream Policy at the American Petroleum Institute, in an emailed Statement. The Ban “puts at risk hundreds of thousands of new jobs, U.S. energy security advancements and billions of dollars in critical revenue for states,” he added.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker


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