Massive offshore oil, gas drilling proposed
Proposal would be biggest expansion ever
White House suggests largest expansion of ocean drilling activity
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is proposing to open up
90% of the Outer Continental Shelf off the U.S. coast to oil and gas exploration in the largest single expansion of off-shore drilling ever proposed.
“This is a start (of ) American energy dominance,” Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke told reporters in a conference call Thursday. “And looking at our offshore assets, beginning a dialogue of when, how, where and how fast those offshore assets should be or could be developed.”
Even before it was officially announced, the move to expand drilling was denounced by environmental groups and their allies who say it would not only disturb maritime ecosystems but also increase the supply and use of fossil fuels that contribute to climate change.
“President Trump is once again defying a majority of American citizens, states, and businesses,” former vice president Al Gore tweeted. “His offshore drilling proposal threatens our coastal communities, just to prop up a dying fossil fuel industry.”
The proposal includes 47 potential lease sales in 25 of the
26 planning areas — 19 sales off the coast of Alaska, seven in the Pacific region, 12 in the Gulf of Mexico, and nine in the Atlantic region.
The five-year plan, covering 2019 to 2024, was initiated by the America First Offshore Energy Strategy directive President Trump signed in April that could eventually open up Arctic waters and millions of coastal acres off U.S. shores to oil and gas drilling.
“Our country is blessed with incredible natural resources including abundant offshore oil and natural gas resources, but the federal government has kept 94% of these offshore areas closed for exploration and production,” Trump said at the time. “This deprives our country of potentially thousands and thousands of jobs and billions in wealth.”
Thursday’s announcement was immediately hailed by manufacturing and business interests as a muchneeded shot in the arm.
Zinke said his agency would work with states and members of Congress who represent potential drilling areas to allay concerns.