By Priscilla Rivas

“Have you seen what’s happening in the news?” is a question that seems to cause a lot of stress for environmentalists lately. From taking the phrase “climate change” out of the National Security Strategy, to drastically shrinking national monuments, the Trump Administration has stirred a lot of controversy around environmental issues. Such moves are commonly opposed by Democrats, and supported by Republicans. Trump’s latest plan for offshore drilling, however, is facing opposition from both sides of the aisle. In such divisive times, it is notable that an environmental regulation may be the one to bring Republicans and Democrats together.

The Deepwater Horizon spill and the Exxon Valdez spill were high impact events that stirred up emotions across the country, and you can likely still recall the haunting photos of birds and marine mammals covered in oil. Although former President Barack Obama once considered expanding U.S. offshore drilling, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill during his tenure showed a lack of needed environmental protection, and he used his last few weeks in office to permanently ban offshore drilling in the Atlantic and Arctic. This past week, the Interior Department dredged up memories of these events when it announced that the federal government will open almost all United States coastal waters to offshore drilling, giving energy companies access to areas that have long been off limits. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke believes the plan is part of  “a new path for energy dominance in America,” but numerous governors, senators, and representatives disagree.

As expected, a number of Democrats oppose the new offshore drilling plan, including governors of New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Oregon and Washington. One possibly more surprising but steadfast opponent of the plan is Florida Governor Rick Scott. Scott claims that his top priority is protecting the natural resources of the state. Likewise, Republican Representative Mark Sanford of South Carolina said in an interview with NPR “that the tradeoffs are not worth it” when it comes to offshore drilling. There is the possibility that the new activities will promote job growth, but at the expense of putting the tourism industry at a level of high risk. New Hampshire Republican Governor Chris Sununu has also expressed his opposition to drilling near his state’s coastline. Independent Senator King and Republican Senator Collins of Maine released a statement stating their concerns of the impacts this oil and gas plan will have on Maine’s coastal resources and fisheries, and the threats to both the economy and the environment. Generally speaking, those from blue states put out statements more concerned about protecting the environment, while those from red states spoke more about potential economic losses, and discontent with too much federal government intervention in state matters. Both of these arguments are completely valid for not supporting this offshore drilling plan, and put together, form a strong case against implementing the plan.

So what does all of this mean for the future of offshore drilling in the United States? The opposition from so many government officials is promising, considering states have immense leverage over key aspects of the development process. Because states have control over the waters closest to shore, pipelines for drilling would likely need state approval. Even though you can’t predict exactly what will happen to the United States’ coastal resources in the future, you can rest a bit easier knowing that a diverse set of representatives are set on protecting them.