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Concern In Florida Continues Even As Trump Administration Bans Oil Drilling
Opponents in St. Augustine of oil and gas exploration. Photo by Amy Green
There’s still concern in Florida the Trump administration’s reversal on oil drilling isn’t enough.
The Trump administration’s sudden ban on oil drilling near Florida comes days after a five-year plan was announced vastly expanding drilling in the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico.
Erin Handy of the advocacy group Oceana is expressing relief but also concern that even as drilling is banned off Florida’s coasts, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke supports a method of exploration called seismic air gun blasting.
“If Zinke says we’ll still allow seismic air gun blasting then one day there may be drilling.”
She says four permit requests for seismic air gun blasting off Florida’s Atlantic coast are under review. If approved the exploration could begin later this year.
The Trump administration’s five-year proposal on drilling faces a 60-day comment period.
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