DoI exempts Fla. from drilling plan

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Trump administration and the Department of Interior will exempt Florida from its draft plan to open potential lease sales that would have allowed for drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. DoI’s reverse course comes five days after its initial announcement of a Draft Proposed Program to open 47 potential lease sales in 25 of 26 planning areas, including 12 in the GoM. It would be the largest number of lease-sales ever proposed for the National Outer Continental program’s five-year lease schedule. DoI acknowledged that pressure from Florida’s Republican Gov. Rick Scott, a potential candidate for the U.S. Senate. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke met with Scott at the Tallahassee airport and took Florida "off the table" when it comes to waters in the eastern GoM and Atlantic Ocean. The change of course highlights the importance of Florida political-wise. President Trump narrowly won the state's 29 electoral votes, and has encouraged Scott to run for Senate. The state’s multi-billion dollar tourism industry is built on sunshine and hundreds of miles of beaches. "Our tactic was open everything up, then meet with governors (and) stakeholders so that when we shaped it, it was right," Zinke told reporters on Jan. 9. "The president made it very clear that local voices count." (Source: The AP 01/09/18)