The Trump administration on Tuesday said there will be no oil drilling off the Florida coast, a move that comes amid pressure from Republican Gov. Rick Scott.
The change comes just five days after Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced a five-year offshore drilling plan that would open 90 percent of the nation’s offshore reserves to development by private companies.
Zinke said Tuesday Scott was the reason the administration changed course. He said he made the announcement after meeting with Scott at the Tallahassee airport.
"As a result of discussion with Gov. Scott's [sic] and his leadership, I am removing Florida from consideration for any new oil and gas platform," Zinke said in a statement.
"President Trump has directed me to rebuild our offshore oil and gas program in a manner that supports our national energy policy and also takes into consideration the local and state voice. I support the governor’s position that Florida is unique and its coasts are heavily reliant on tourism as an economic driver," he continued.
Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, a Dempcrat, tweeted that Virginia’s governor made the same request, "but we have not received the same commitment."
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