New Jersey
Coastal Economies Protection Act Targets Atlantic Offshore Drilling Moratorium
Content Files PDF XML TEXT Metadata download Descriptive Metadata (MODS) Preservation Metadata (PREMIS) All Content and Metadata files, including granules ZIP
Last updated:
Key points
- Rep. Mark Sanford introduced the Coastal Economies Protection Act to establish a 10-year moratorium on offshore oil leasing.
- The bill targets five Atlantic and Gulf ocean planning areas to safeguard coastal industries and shorelines.
- Referred to the House Natural Resources Committee, the proposal amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
NewsWK — Lawmakers in Washington introduced new federal legislation to restrict ocean energy production along Eastern shorelines. The Coastal Economies Protection Act creates a comprehensive ten-year halt on leasing efforts across five major marine regions.
How would an Atlantic offshore drilling moratorium affect local regions?
The proposed legislation establishes a decade-long pause on federal energy leasing off eastern shorelines. This ten-year pause protects coastal tourism, commercial fisheries, and local maritime businesses from potential spill impacts. Furthermore, coastal real estate markets across several Atlantic states gain increased certainty regarding prospective ocean development projects. As a result, coastal shorelines avoid near-term industrial transformation.
Specifically, the proposed statutory freeze covers five distinct federal planning zones:
- North Atlantic
- Mid-Atlantic
- South Atlantic
- Straits of Florida
- Eastern Gulf of Mexico
What key provisions are included in the Mark Sanford offshore drilling bill?
South Carolina Representative Mark Sanford introduced the measure alongside New Jersey Representative Frank A. LoBiondo. Official records list the legislation as HR 2252 within the 115th Congress. Furthermore, the measure amends sections of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Specifically, the statutory updates modify Title 43 of the United States Code, sections 1331 and 1344. In addition, the bill incorporates existing statutory references to Public Law 109-432.
When did the legislation enter the congressional record?
Representative Mark Sanford introduced the federal bill during the 115th Congress on April 28, 2017. House leaders then referred the measure to the House Committee on Natural Resources for formal review. However, the bill currently remains at the introduced stage without final congressional enactment.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI and reviewed by our editorial team.
Sources
Related: States Navigate Offshore Wind Federal Buyouts as Clean Energy Goals Face Policy Shift
Related: Blue-State Coalition Escalates Legal Fight Over Trump Offshore Wind Lease Lawsuits
See a typo? Report it here.
