Plans from the Trump administration to expand offshore oil drilling drew a sharp rebuke from Washington’s governor, and U.S. Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.
On Friday morning, Murray tweeted out a call for photos to show Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, “… why our waters are worth protecting, too.”
Earlier this week, local voices in FL convinced @SecretaryZinke to take their waters off the list for future offshore oil & gas drilling.
So join me—tweet out YOUR photos of WA’s majestic coasts & let’s show @SecretaryZinke why our waters are worth protecting, too. https://t.co/GbQOwNz59L
— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) January 12, 2018
Within a couple of hours, it drew more than 150 replies, almost 200 retweets and 400+ likes. Many of the photos showed pristine shorelines, bright sunsets, seaside homes and abundant wildlife, from La Push to Westport.
This is Ocean Shores WA . It’s beyond beautiful and deserves to be protected . Leave our coast alone . No drilling !! pic.twitter.com/0ctH0BzSYl
— Cole (@Summitlovechild) January 12, 2018
Westport, WA. Protect our coast and wildlife. pic.twitter.com/jjSl61mHpO
— Ashley (@AshonIce) January 12, 2018
Puget Sound from the deck of the USS New Orleans pic.twitter.com/2ITzNLHMKH
— Antipasto Supersoldier (@emmeyekayeee) January 12, 2018
As reported Jan. 4 by the Associated Press, Zinke said the five-year plan would open 90 percent of the nation’s offshore reserves to development by private companies. That includes a proposed 47 leases — six of which would be off California’s coast — off the United States’ coastlines from 2019 to 2024. Zinke said the Department of the Interior had not finalized the plan.
“This is a draft program,” Zinke said. “Nothing is final yet, and our department is continuing to engage the American people to get to our final product.”
Grays Harbor, WA. The local economy across our state relies on our natural places to be protected and restored. Hands off our coast! pic.twitter.com/oz1UOnqRMp
— PeopleForPugetSound (@pugetpeople) January 12, 2018
Even as a draft, Democratic and Republican leaders on both coasts were seeking exemption from the plans. Gov. Jerry Brown of California said he would block the action. Florida Gov. Rick Scott met with Zinke shortly after the draft was published, and apparently successfully convinced him to remove Florida from the plan.
Finally touched down to talk with @FLGovScott about our offshore energy proposal. Local voices matter. pic.twitter.com/VkjypR5oB1
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) January 9, 2018
After talking with @FLGovScott, I am removing #Florida from the draft offshore plan. pic.twitter.com/lZIfdCDNOR
— Secretary Ryan Zinke (@SecretaryZinke) January 9, 2018
Here in Washington, such a deal was met with cautious optimism by Gov. Jay Inslee, who said, “Washington wants out of the offshore drilling plan too…” On Thursday, Inslee sent a letter formally asking for Washington to be removed from the offshore drilling plan. In his letter, he cited Washington’s national-leading shellfish industry, “robust fishing and shipping economic sector” and “significant” U.S. Navy presence. He also referred to prior oil-related ecological disasters in 1988 and 1991.
Washington wants out of the offshore drilling plan too, @SecretaryZinke. Let's talk. https://t.co/2ob5zbMey1
— Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) January 10, 2018
Also Thursday, Inslee went on CNN to speak with Wolf Blitzer about his request to President Donald Trump and Zinke. Inslee described coastal states’ responses as a “bipartisan revulsion against what happened here, because both Democrat and Republican governors — 15 have objected this — six Republicans…” Inslee also made a remark about Trump having an obligation to protect all beaches, “and not just protect places where you happen to have a golf course with a beach around it.”
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says President Trump has an obligation to protect all beaches from offshore drilling, not just Florida: "Maybe I have to buy Donald Trump a golf course in Washington or something to get him to protect us" https://t.co/2S6dMe1ELK
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) January 11, 2018
All of this led into Friday’s Tweetstorm via Sen. Murray. Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-WA, was one of the first replies with a photo of La Push, on the coast of the Olympic Peninsula.
La Push, WA. We're fighting for these views and the coastal economies that surround them. pic.twitter.com/NqFHoERBTZ
— Sen. Maria Cantwell (@SenatorCantwell) January 12, 2018
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-NY, got in on the liberal-leaning party, too.
.@PattyMurray is right. The Trump admin’s proposal to open up vast swaths of the coast – including off Long Island & NYC – for reckless oil drilling can be summed up as: spill, baby, spill. Any accident off this coast would be devastating to our beaches, fishing industry & more. pic.twitter.com/rgnXgkGLiD
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) January 12, 2018
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