What This Bill Does
This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (a federal law about ocean resources). The bill permanently prevents the U.S. Secretary of the Interior from approving oil and gas drilling in four specific ocean planning areas near the Atlantic coast and Florida.
Who It Affects
The Secretary of the Interior (the federal official who approves drilling permits) is directly affected. Oil and gas companies seeking to drill in these areas would be prevented from obtaining permits or leases.
Key Provisions
• The Secretary of the Interior cannot issue leases or permits for exploring, developing or producing oil, natural gas or other minerals in the Mid-Atlantic planning area (Sec. 2)
• The Secretary of the Interior cannot issue leases or permits for exploring, developing or producing oil, natural gas or other minerals in the South Atlantic planning area (Sec. 2)
• The Secretary of the Interior cannot issue leases or permits for exploring, developing or producing oil, natural gas or other minerals in the North Atlantic planning area (Sec. 2)
• The Secretary of the Interior cannot issue leases or permits for exploring, developing or producing oil, natural gas or other minerals in the Straits of Florida planning area (Sec. 2)
What Changes
Federal law would permanently ban oil and gas leasing in these four Atlantic Ocean planning areas. The ban overrides any other existing law or provision that might otherwise permit drilling in these waters.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1320
To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit
the conduct of offshore drilling on the outer Continental Shelf in the
Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida
planning areas.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 1, 2023
Mr. PALLONE (for himself, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. SWALWELL,
Mr. PASCRELL, Mr. PANETTA, Ms. PINGREE, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. SCOTT
of Virginia, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Ms. ROSS, Mr. CASE, Mr. BLU-
MENAUER, Mr. NADLER, Mr. VAN DREW, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. HUFFMAN,
Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. KIM of New Jersey, Mr. EVANS, Ms. BLUNT ROCH-
ESTER, Ms. TOKUDA, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. KEAN of New Jersey, Mr.
GOTTHEIMER, Ms. PORTER, Mr. SCHIFF, Mr. NORCROSS, Ms. SHERRILL,
Mr. MENENDEZ, and Ms. LEE of California) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources
A BILL
To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to perma-
nently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the
outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlan-
tic, North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning
areas.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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•HR 1320 IH
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Clean Ocean And Safe
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Tourism Anti-Drilling Act’’ or the ‘‘COAST Anti-Drilling
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Act’’.
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SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF OIL AND GAS LEASING IN CER-
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TAIN AREAS OF THE OUTER CONTINENTAL
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SHELF.
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Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
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(43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the
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following:
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‘‘(q) PROHIBITION OF OIL AND GAS LEASING IN
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CERTAIN AREAS OF THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.—
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Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any
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other law, the Secretary of the Interior shall not issue a
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lease or any other authorization for the exploration, devel-
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opment, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other
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mineral in—
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‘‘(1) the Mid-Atlantic planning area;
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‘‘(2) the South Atlantic planning area;
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‘‘(3) the North Atlantic planning area; or
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‘‘(4) the Straits of Florida planning area,’’.
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Æ
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