RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Virginia's lieutenant governor is urging federal officials to exclude Virginia from offshore drilling.
In a letter addressed to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Thursday, Lt. Gov. Ralph S. Northam said offshore drilling has the potential to threaten the environment, defense, agriculture and tourism of the state.
Northam, a Democrat, has announced his plans to run for governor in 2017. In the letter, he cited the "demise of the Chesapeake Bay" and his work toward its restoration as one of the reasons he decided to run for public office.
Northam's position puts him at odds with other Democrats, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the state's U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner, who have advocated for offshore drilling in Virginia. They have stated that offshore drilling has job-creating potential.
