Zinke Gets Strong GOP Resistance To Drilling Plan, Starts Backing Off

"WASHINGTON -- Facing mounting pressure from fellow Republicans who see little consistuent support for drilling off the Atlantic coast, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke could be backpedaling on the Trump administration’s initial plans to expand the program, GOP lawmakers told McClatchy.

In a meeting with affected coastal GOP representatives last week, Zinke reaffirmed an exemption from the drilling for Florida, hinted to New Jersey officials their state was likely to be spared and left a Virginia congressman optimistic the policy would be overturned for his state, too. And Zinke said he’d travel to South Carolina to get a better sense of their concerns as well.

If Zinke carves out exceptions for all these states, the idea of cross-Atlantic oil drilling basis could be dead."

Emma Dumain reports for the McClatchy Washington Bureau March 7, 2018.