Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) made the following statement regarding Walter Cruickshank’s, acting director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), statement that Florida is not off the table for offshore drilling activities.

Cruickshank’s statement contradicts Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s statement a few days ago, following a meeting with Gov. Rick Scott (R), that Florida would receive an exemption from new offshore drilling activities.

"So it appears, the Interior Secretary's attempt to do political favors instead of following the law is being called out by his own staff,” said Senator Cantwell. “Many parts of the U.S. coastline have previously been discussed for drilling and consistently rejected.   Instead of protecting environmentally sensitive, fishing and tourism economies the Secretary is wasting taxpayer dollars and putting politics ahead of good stewardship management."

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