Military interests and concerns from coastal communities were factors influencing a decision on drilling in the Atlantic Ocean, a White House spokesman said. The Interior Department revised a lease plan through 2022 to include 10 potential sales in the Gulf of Mexico and three for offshore Alaska. Initial considerations for lease sales in the Atlantic were removed because of “current market dynamics, strong local opposition and conflicts with competing commercial and military ocean uses,” the department said. The U.S. Defense Department this week told the White House there may be areas in the original proposal for the Atlantic that may not be compatible with defense operations and interests. Environmental groups, local and […]