Feds aiming to prevent CA from blocking new offshore oil drilling

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the Trump Administration is moving to restrict the ability of coastal states like California to block new offshore oil drilling in federal waters:

In a notice published earlier this month, the Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asked the public to weigh in on ways to “streamline” a state review process granted under the Coastal Zone Management Act.

The 1972 law is widely considered one of the most powerful tools states have to regulate activity off their coasts. It applies to all of the coastal and Great Lakes states, with the exception of Alaska.

The act gives states a voice when federal projects or industry development affect their coast, even activities that occur outside a state’s jurisdiction, which extends three miles from the coast.

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