White House proposes offshore drilling expansion

The White House on Thursday moved to vastly expand offshore drilling from the Atlantic to the Arctic oceans. The new five-year drilling plan also could open up federal waters off the California coast for the first time in more than three decades. It could also allow new oil and gas exploration off the East Coast from Georgia to Maine, where the government has blocked drilling. The plan would let private companies access 90 percent of the nation’s offshore reserves. Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, say new drilling puts the environment at risk. While announcing the move, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said responsible development of offshore energy resources would boost the economy and provide billions of dollars to fund conservation efforts. Zinke stressed that “this is a draft program” and still subject to change.