WASHINGTON: The Trump administration on Thursday announced a proposal to allow oil drilling in virtually all US coastal waters, drawing immediate criticism from environmentalists and some Republicans.
Officials with the US Interior Department said the plan calls for 47 lease sales over five years, a radical increase from the level allowed under President Barack Obama.
Republican Governor Rick Scott of Florida was among the early critics of the plan that is part of President Donald Trump鈥檚 鈥渆nergy dominance鈥� focus, saying oil drilling threatened Florida鈥檚 natural resources, an issue that has long had bipartisan support.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke described the proposal as 鈥渁 beginning鈥� of a process that will take into consideration Scott鈥檚 views and other state officials who oppose drilling.
While offshore drilling is defended as a vital source of jobs and economic development in Texas, Louisiana and a handful of other states, many other parts of the country have vigorously fought drilling due to environmental hazards and the importance of tourism to their local economies.
鈥淎t the end of the process, we鈥檙e going to listen to the voices of all the stakeholders,鈥� Zinke told reporters on a conference call. 鈥淐ertainly Florida is going to have a say.鈥�
Zinke described the initiative as part of the Trump administration鈥檚 鈥淎merica First鈥� agenda.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a clear difference between energy weakness and energy dominance,鈥� Zinke said. 鈥淯nder President Trump, we鈥檙e going to be the strongest possible superpower because we have the assets.鈥�
Scott said he has requested a meeting with Zinke 鈥渢o discuss the concerns I have with this plan and the crucial need to remove Florida from consideration.鈥�
鈥淢y top priority is to ensure that Florida鈥檚 natural resources are protected,鈥� he said in a statement.
The announcement Thursday follows last week鈥檚 unveiling of proposed new regulations on offshore drilling that would reverse safeguards put in place following the Deepwater Horizon environmental disaster in 2010, which the Interior Department said would save the industry $228 million over 10 years.