Zinke vs. Coastal Governors
Published by the Natural Resources Defense Fund
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Well, this is awkward. After opening 90 percent of America’s coastlines to offshore drilling last week, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke exempted Florida after its governor, Rick Scott, asked him to. That’s great news for Florida’s communities, coastal habitats, and local economies (and, ahem, Mar-a-Lago), but millions of Americans are wondering why their shores are still on the chopping block.
Zinke’s proposal—à la Trump’s distorted vision for “energy dominance”—would tear up the 2017–2022 Obama administration plan, which currently protects the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans from dangerous drilling. That plan is the result of years of research and bipartisan collaboration, as well as 1.4 million public comments demanding the protection of the nation’s coasts.
Zinke’s mixed messages are receiving a lot of their own public comments—very public, in fact. Because the secretary won’t answer their phone calls, governors from around the country are using Twitter like a customer service line to the Interior Department. In the face of these plans to desecrate their constituents’ coasts, e pluribus unum. Out of many ticked off governors, one emboldened roar.
Virginia is not for lovers of offshore drilling rigs.
We’d like a word in Virginia. https://t.co/hKumvPMcV4
— Ralph Northam (@RalphNortham) January 10, 2018
New York says fughetaboutit!
New York doesn’t want drilling off our coast either. Where do we sign up for a waiver @SecretaryZinke? https://t.co/dt1rJAEna1
— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) January 10, 2018
North Carolina says take a flight, Zinke—and preferably not on the taxpayers’ dime.
Is this thing on? I’ll try again: Not Off Our Coast – RC https://t.co/egI6DJgi1g
— Governor Roy Cooper (@NC_Governor) January 10, 2018
Washington doesn’t want offshore rigs anywhere near the Evergreen State.
Washington wants out of the offshore drilling plan too, @SecretaryZinke. Let’s talk. https://t.co/2ob5zbMey1
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) January 10, 2018
You better blaze a trail out of Oregon. You’re not welcome there, either.
Hey @secretaryzinke, how about doing the same for #Oregon? https://t.co/IowVePSm1d
— Governor Kate Brown (@OregonGovBrown) January 10, 2018
Rhode Island has already made its preference for offshore power clear.
Offshore power. pic.twitter.com/hk8ng9kNxW
— Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) January 10, 2018
Delaware declares its liberty and independence from your bad ideas.
I’m going to request a meeting with @SecretaryZinke to discuss the Trump Administration’s offshore drilling plan— and the risks that offshore drilling pose to #Delaware, the state’s natural resources, and our tourism economy.
— Governor John Carney (@JohnCarneyDE) January 10, 2018
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Read the full article at: https://www.nrdc.org/onearth/zinke-vs-governors
