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Trump Interior Pick Ryan Zinke Says He’d Review Reversing Ban on Arctic Drilling

HeadlineJan 18, 2017

The Senate also held confirmation hearings Tuesday for Montana Congressmember Ryan Zinke, who is Trump’s nominee to lead the Interior Department. This is Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski questioning Zinke about whether he would attempt to roll back President Obama’s ban on oil drilling in the Arctic.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski: “Will you commit to a formal review of all of the Obama administration’s actions that took resource-bearing lands and waters in Alaska effectively off the table, including the decisions that specifically prevented the leasing of those lands and those waters for development, and determine whether or not they can be reversed?”

Rep. Ryan Zinke: “Yes. I think the president-elect has said that we want to be energy independent.”

Today, the Senate will hold confirmation hearings for billionaire Wilbur Ross, Trump’s nominee for commerce secretary; Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt for EPA director; and Georgia Republican Congressmember Tom Price, Trump’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services.

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