Offshore Drilling Exemption For Florida Concerns New Jersey AG

Why was Florida granted an exemption from the Trump Administration’s offshore drilling plan? That’s what Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal wants to know, and he’s gone so far as to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get answers.

In January, the Trump Administration promised Florida it would be exempt from the federal government’s proposed offshore drilling plan. Recent media reports have indicated the decision to exempt Florida happened well in advance of the announcement and not at the last minute, as was initially indicated.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has proposed opening up the Atlantic Coast for offshore drilling, oil and gas exploration. The plan extends out 50 miles along the coastline. Under the plan for the 2019-2024 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program, areas off the coast of the Jersey Shore would be auctioned off to companies so they can drill in those areas. Details can be found at regulations.gov.

Grewal’s FOIA request seeks all correspondence and internal documents since Jan. 20, 2017, related to any meetings and conversations that took place between the offices of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke and Florida Governor Rick Scott in the run-up to the announcement of Florida’s exemption from offshore drilling on January 9, 2018.

“We are troubled by recent press reports suggesting that Florida may have received special treatment, and are taking action to discern the truth of the matter for ourselves,” Grewal said. “To this day, the federal government has never offered a detailed explanation as to why it granted Florida’s request for an exemption from offshore drilling, while forging ahead with a plan to impose this unwanted activity on New Jersey and other states.”

Documents Grewal requested include:

• All records reflecting any consultations, meetings, or other communications between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott, or any agents, consultants, or employees of their respective offices, relating to the Secretary’s decision to remove Florida from the OCS Leasing Program.
• All records regarding any consultations, meetings, or other communications pertaining to the scheduling of the January 9, 2018 meeting between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott.
• All records reflecting any consultations, meetings, or other communications prior to the January 9, 2018 meeting between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott pertaining to the agenda or planned topics of discussion for the meeting.
• All records reflecting any consultations, meetings, or other communications following the January 9, 2018 meeting between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott pertaining to the OCS Leasing Program.
• All records reflecting any consultations, meetings, or other communications following the January 9, 2018 meeting between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott pertaining to any proposed terms or agreements reached between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott on Florida’s exemption from the OCS Leasing Program.
• All records reflecting any consultations, meetings, or other communications within the Department of Interior relating to the Secretary’s decision not to yet remove any other affected state from the OCS Leasing Program.
• Any FOIA requests submitted by any entity or citizen and responses in your possession related to: 1) the exemption of Florida from the OCS Leasing Program; or 2) the January 9, 2018 meeting between Secretary Zinke and Governor Scott.

“New Jersey has been as vocal in opposing this ill-advised and disruptive drilling plan as Florida or any other state, and with good reason – namely that our coastal resources are vital both economically and environmentally, and would suffer irreparable harm if offshore drilling were undertaken,” Grewal said.

It’s been a bipartisan issue, as was evidenced by the group of officials that came together to encourage the public to speak out against offshore drilling in Ocean City last month.

That group included Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2); State Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1); Assemblymen Bob Andrzejczak and Bruce Land (D-1); Assemblymen John Armato and Vincent Mazzeo (D-2); Atlantic City Mayor Frank Gilliam, a Democrat; and Cape May County Freeholder Director Jerry Thornton and Freeholder Jeff Pierson.

Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian and Councilmen Bob Barr and Michael DeVlieger were also in attendance, as well as representatives from several activist groups. That group called the issue an economic issue as well as an environmental issue.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, New Jersey’s 130-mile coastline generated more than $44 billion in coastal tourism revenue in 2016, supporting more than 838,000 jobs and generating $5.6 billion in federal taxes.

Grewal has already joined a multi-state coalition of Attorneys General in written comments opposing the federal government’s proposed expansion of offshore drilling, and calling on the Interior Department to honor its past practice of not imposing such activity on states that don’t want it.

“States are in the best position to determine if any benefits associated with offshore drilling are worth the risk and inevitable harms that come with such activity,” Grewal said. “Federal government officials should know we will take them to court if they refuse to let us decide this important issue for ourselves.”

Attached image: Rep. Frank LoBiondo speaks during a press conference about offshore drilling in Ocean City last month. Photo credit: Anthony Bellano