What This Bill Does
This bill extends a ban on oil and gas drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The bill also adds two new areas where drilling is banned: the South Atlantic Planning Area and the Straits of Florida Planning Area. The law allows the federal government to issue leases in these areas only for environmental protection purposes like beach restoration and wetlands protection.
Who It Affects
Oil and gas companies seeking to drill in these coastal areas. The federal government, specifically the Secretary who oversees oil and gas leasing. Residents of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Environmental conservation organizations. Companies with existing valid leases in these areas.
Key Provisions
- The existing drilling ban off Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina is extended to a later date (Sec. 2(1)(A))
- A new drilling ban is created for the South Atlantic Planning Area as designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Sec. 2(1)(D))
- A new drilling ban is created for the Straits of Florida Planning Area as designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (Sec. 2(1)(D))
- Oil and gas leases that were valid and in effect before this law passed are not affected by the new bans (Sec. 2(d))
- The federal government may issue leases in banned areas only for environmental conservation purposes such as shore protection, beach nourishment, wetlands restoration, and habitat protection (Sec. 2(e))
What Changes
The drilling moratorium (a temporary ban) extends for ten additional years. Two new ocean planning areas are added to the list of areas where oil and gas drilling cannot occur.
Important Definitions
South Atlantic Planning Area: An ocean area designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Straits of Florida Planning Area: An ocean area designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
II
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
S. 49
To amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 to extend the
moratorium on drilling off the coasts of the States of Florida, Georgia,
and South Carolina, and for other purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY 24 (legislative day, JANUARY 3), 2023
Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Mr. SCOTT of Florida) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
A BILL
To amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006
to extend the moratorium on drilling off the coasts of
the States of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, and
for other purposes.
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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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Shores Pro-
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tection Act of 2023’’.
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•S 49 IS
SEC. 2. MORATORIUM ON OIL AND GAS LEASING OFF THE
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COASTS OF THE STATES OF FLORIDA, GEOR-
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GIA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA.
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Section 104 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security
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Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432)
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is amended—
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(1) in subsection (a)—
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(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1),
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by striking ‘‘June 30, 2022’’ and inserting
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‘‘June 30, 2032’’;
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’
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after the semicolon;
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(C) in paragraph (3)(B)(iii), by striking
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the period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
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and
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(D) by adding at the end the following:
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‘‘(4) any area in the South Atlantic Planning
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Area (as designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
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Management as of the date of enactment of this
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paragraph); or
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‘‘(5) any area in the Straits of Florida Planning
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Area (as designated by the Bureau of Ocean Energy
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Management as of the date of enactment of this
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paragraph).’’; and
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(2) by adding at the end the following:
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•S 49 IS
‘‘(d) EFFECT ON CERTAIN LEASES.—The moratoria
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under paragraphs (4) and (5) of subsection (a) shall not
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affect valid existing leases in effect on the date of enact-
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ment of this subsection.
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‘‘(e)
ENVIRONMENTAL
EXCEPTIONS.—Notwith-
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standing subsection (a), the Secretary may issue leases in
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areas described in that subsection for environmental con-
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servation purposes, including the purposes of shore protec-
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tion, beach nourishment and restoration, wetlands restora-
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tion, and habitat protection.’’.
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Æ
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