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Lawmakers grill Zinke on offshore drilling plans, energy focus at House hearing

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Lawmakers grill Zinke on offshore drilling plans, energy focus at House hearing

Lawmakers from coastal states during a March 15 congressional hearing slammed the head of the U.S. Department of the Interior over the Trump administration's proposal to open U.S. waters to offshore oil and gas drilling.

"The new DOI strategic plan eliminates all reference to climate change but makes sure that the first three words in the new departmental vision statement are, to quote, 'promote energy dominance,'" Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., said at a House Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing on policy priorities and the Trump administration's fiscal year 2019 budget request.

"That's the kind of vision that leads to opening both the Atlantic and Pacific coast to unwanted offshore drilling," Huffman said. "That's the kind of vision that leads to stacking a royalty collection advisory committee with oil, gas and coal executives, which, unsurprisingly, led to recommendations to give those industries huge discounts and rip off the American taxpayers for the use of their lands and waters. That's the kind of vision that leads to a cynical proposal to pay for maintenance at our national parks through vastly expanded drilling and mining."

Representatives from Massachusetts, Florida and Virginia joined Huffman in voicing resistance to offshore drilling in their states, echoing concerns expressed in a March 13 Senate hearing as well as previous opposition from both Democratic and Republican governors in coastal states. Some lawmakers asked for treatment similar to Florida, which was exempted from offshore drilling in January.

Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said President Donald Trump wants to take the opinions of state and local communities into consideration and every member of Florida's congressional delegation had requested the state's exemption.

Mine reclamation

Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., asked Zinke about addressing his state's mine reclamation needs.

"We've made great strides in restoring our historical mine lands over the past four decades, but there are a lot of scars left, a lot of work to be done," he said.

Zinke said the agency requested an additional $51 million for reclaiming abandoned mine lands in the upcoming fiscal year and wants to take a closer look at how it dispenses funds, with an eye toward shortening the timeline of projects.

"We think that will save money, which will allow more flexibility and more programs," Zinke said.

Fossil fuel budget increases for BLM

Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif., asked about the logic behind some energy-related items in the Trump administration's fiscal year 2019 budget request.

"The coal budget of the [U.S.] Bureau of Land Management has increased by 80%. However, according to Bloomberg and other sources, the coal production in the United States is going through a downward trend even under President Trump," Gomez said, contrasting that with proposed cuts to renewable energy programs. "Right now it definitely seems like one source is being promoted and given more funding than the other energy sources."

Zinke said the coal budget includes costs for leasing, inspection and clearing up a backlog of permitting.