The Trump administration is removing Florida from its offshore drilling plan because the state is 'obviously unique' — and other coastal states are furious

Last week, the Trump Administration announced
Florida Governor Rick Scott quickly voiced his opposition, as did many other coastal governors.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke now says Florida's Gulf and Atlantic coasts will be off-limits to drilling because the state is "obviously unique."

Last Thursday, the Trump Administration released a plan that would allow the US government to lease out nearly all federal waters to oil companies for offshore drilling. But Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has reversed course on part of that plan, saying the Florida coast is now "off the table" because the state is "obviously unique."

The original plan, announced by the Department of the Interior last week, would allow oil companies to bid for drilling rights in nearly all US

Florida Gov. Rick Scott was a vocal opponent of the plan, and promised to set up a meeting with the administration as soon as possible to discuss his disapproval. Protecting the state's natural resources, he said, is more important than opening up its waters for oil extraction.

Florida's economy has been threatened by drilling mishaps before: In 2010, when the Deepwater Horizon spill sent oil gushing into the waters near Louisiana and Mississippi, Florida lost millions of tourism dollars, Reuters reported.

The Florida Ocean Alliance estimates that coastal counties in the state drive 79% of its economy, with tourism and recreation accounting for the vast majority. The Natural Resources Defense Council estimates that fishing, tourism and related industries in the state employ over 383,300 Floridians.

But Florida isn't the only state where the economy is inextricably linked to the ocean, of course. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that in 2014, the so-called ocean economy contributed more than $352 billion to US GDP and supported 3.1 million jobs.

Officials from other coastal states are furious about the decision to spare Florida from drilling, since their strong opposition to the plan seems to be getting ignored so far. California's State Attorney General was quick to raise his voice on Twitter Tuesday night:

The California Coastal Commission said that "producing oil and gas in these areas could have significant, longterm, and far-reaching effects on marine and coastal wildlife, commercial fishing, wetlands, ocean and beach users, and coastal tourism."

Many other states argue their coastline and waters are "unique" as well. Governors, tribal leaders, members of Congress, public officials, and members of the general public submitted public comments voicing their concern about the plan to the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

But unlike Florida, none of those states voted for Trump in 2016.

Now other states that pulled the lever for Trump in 2016 want their voices heard, too. After hearing about Florida's special treatment, South Carolina's Republican Gov. Henry McMaster said he's pressing the administration for an exemption from the plan for his state, the Star Telegram reported. Meanwhile up the shoreline in North Carolina, democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's vocal opposition to the idea is at odds with his Lieutenant Gov. Dan Forest, who said offshore drilling could bring "thousands of jobs" to that state.