Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- This evening, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke announced that less than one week after unveiling his draft plan for offshore drilling, he is removing Florida’s waters from the plan. Zinke’s plan has been universally condemned by coastal communities and politicians on both sides of the aisle.
In response, Sierra Club Florida Director Frank Jackalone released the following statement:
“Make no mistake about it, Ryan Zinke’s decision -- if true -- to remove Florida from the draft offshore drilling plan was a purely political move to aid the ambitions of Rick Scott. Had Zinke cared about the wishes of coastal communities or how drilling off their coasts will affect them, he would have proposed a plan that shrinks drilling even further, not proposed expanding operations to nearly every corner of our waters. Ryan Zinke doesn’t care about the American people; his only thoughts lie with the corporate polluters directing his every move and the political ambitions of a select few.
“Floridians won't put up with politicians who support offshore drilling because an oil spill on our beaches would wreck our economy and destroy what people love most about our state."
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.