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Diaranson 9 september 2020

Trump expands ban on new offshore drilling sites in Atlantic

exploration expansion plans,
applauded Tuesday's an-
nouncement as “good news”
but warned “we must remain
vigilant in the conserva-
tion and preservation of our
coastline.” Trump said he had
also been discussing the mor-
atorium with Florida Gov.
Ron DeSantis, who greeted
Trump at the airport in West
Palm Beach and attended the
Jupiter event.
“This protects your beauti-
ful gulf and your beautiful
ocean, and it will for a long
time to come,” Trump said
about the ban to an audience
of about 200 people, includ-
ing federal and state officials
and members of Congress.
Few wore face coverings or
practiced social distancing.
Jaclyn Lopez, Florida director
for the Center for Biological
Diversity Action Fund, said
Floridians will remember it
was Trump who previously
proposed opening the state to
drilling in the first place.

“Voters shouldn’t be duped
by this cheap, last-minute
maneuver," Lopez said in an
emailed statement. "It can’t
even begin to make up for
the aggressive efforts to ex-
(AP) — President Donald merous regulations meant to to help other nations afford signed to protect the envi- pand dirty offshore drilling
Trump expanded a ban on protect air and water quality low-carbon development and ronment, from power plant since Trump’s been in of-
new offshore drilling Tues- and lands essential for imper- pitches a global moratorium emissions to auto fuel stan- fice.” Energy industry groups
day, an election-year rever- iled species. on Arctic offshore drilling. dards to clean water. He expressed said the decision
sal likely to appeal to voters The announcement could withdrew the U.S. from was the “wrong approach”
in Florida and other coastal The trip comes as Trump open Trump to charges of an the Paris Climate Accord, a for the times. “Offshore ac-
states. Two years ago, Trump steps up his travel to battle- election-year flip-flop given global agreement to address cess is critical for growing
had taken steps to vastly ex- ground states eight week that in January 2018 he act- the emission of heat-trapping U.S. energy leadership and
pand offshore drilling from before the election. From ed to vastly expand offshore greenhouse gases. providing affordable energy
coast to coast. Florida, he headed for a cam- drilling from the Atlantic to The environment has also for American families,” said
“This protects your beauti- paign rally in North Caro- the Arctic oceans and he has been the primary target of Lem Smith, vice president of
ful gulf and your beautiful lina, another must-win for supported efforts to boost Trump's push to eliminate upstream policy at the Amer-
ocean, and it will for a long his reelection, before return- American energy produc- regulations, eliminating or ican Petroleum Institute, in
time to come,” Trump said as ing to the White House late tion to lessen reliance on for- weakening dozens of rules an emailed statement. The
he announced the expanded Tuesday. Trump used the eign sources. Biden accused that protect the air and water, ban “puts at risk hundreds of
drilling ban during an ap- taxpayer-funded event to Trump of “conveniently” along with lands essential for thousands of new jobs, U.S.
pearance at the Jupiter Inlet lambaste his opponent with changing his mind. imperiled species while re- energy security advance-
Lighthouse. claims that Biden would "de- “Just months ago, Donald versing Obama-era initiatives ments and billions of dollars
stroy America’s middle class" Trump was planning to al- to fight climate change. in critical revenue for states,”
The president signed a mem- and give a "free pass to the low oil and gas drilling off Trump replaced Obama’s he added.
orandum instructing the in- world’s worst foreign pol- the coast of Florida,” Biden Clean Power Plan aimed at
terior secretary to prohibit luters.” Biden has called for tweeted. “Now, with 56 days slashing greenhouse gas pol- Environmental groups and
drilling in the waters off both eliminating carbon emissions until the election, he conve- lution from electric plants former EPA chiefs from
Florida coasts, and off the from power plants by 2035 niently says that he changed and eased automobile fuel both parties have criticized
coasts of Georgia and South and modernizing the electric his mind. Unbelievable. You economy standards. Under Trump’s environmental re-
Carolina for a period of 10 grid. Both moves would cur- don’t have to guess where I Trump, the Environmental cord. Current EPA Admin-
years — from July 1, 2022, tail fossil fuel demand. His stand: I oppose new offshore Protection Agency stripped istrator Andrew Wheeler, a
to June 20, 2032. The exist- plan also includes significant drilling.” federal protection from mil- former coal lobbyist, defend-
ing moratorium covers the direct public spending and lions of acres of streams and ed it last week in a speech
Gulf of Mexico, and Trump tax subsidies for other energy Trump offered himself as the wetlands. He lifted restric- commemorating the agency’s
said the new one would also sources, which Biden’s cam- greatest environmental presi- tions on oil and gas explora- 50th anniversary. He con-
cover the Atlantic coast — a paign says would spur new dent since Theodore Roos- tion in sensitive areas and tended Trump had reined in
significant political concern jobs even as traditional en- evelt. shortened environmental an agency that had lost sight
in coastal states like Florida. ergy jobs wane. “Who would have thought? reviews of construction proj- of its core mission. A sec-
Trump used the event to Trump is the great environ- ects such as highways and ond term would bring more
portray himself as an envi- Biden calls out China as the mentalist,” the president said. pipelines. cleanups of Superfund toxic
ronmental steward and con- world’s biggest coal polluter “You hear that? That’s good, waste dumps and restoration
trast his record against that of and says he’d hinge all future and I am. I am. I believe South Carolina Gov. Hen- of polluted industrial sites,
Democrat Joe Biden. But the trade deals with Beijing on strongly in it." ry McMaster, a longtime which drew renewed empha-
Trump administration has carbon reductions. He sup- But Trump has rolled back Trump ally who has opposed sis during Trump’s first term,
overturned or weakened nu- ports an international alliance numerous regulations de- the administration’s drilling Wheeler said.