Oregon might be exempted from offshore drilling plan

SALEM, Ore. — Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke agreed to consider exempting Oregon from the Trump administration’s offshore drilling plan after speaking with Gov. Kate Brown, her office said Friday.

Brown previously criticized Zinke for the plan to resume drilling off the coast of the United States, saying it would endanger Oregon’s coast.

Several other states have objected, but Florida was the only one to receive an exemption after its Republican governor complained.

The department said in a statement earlier Friday that Zinke had set up calls with the governors of Rhode Island, Oregon, California, Washington, Delaware and North Carolina to get their input.

Zinke called Brown, a Democrat, and they spoke for 28 minutes, spokesman Bryan Hockaday said.

“Regarding the offshore drilling ban, Gov. Brown asked for the same consideration for Oregon’s ‘people’s coast’ as was given Florida,” Hockaday said. “Secretary Zinke agreed with concerns about the economic risks that offshore drilling could bring to Oregon and committed to work with the governor.”

The governors of California and Washington have also strongly opposed new leasing off their coasts and asked to be removed from the plan.