Sponsors (8)
The bill protects Mid‑Atlantic coastal communities and ecosystems and reduces regional climate risk by blocking new offshore leasing, but does so at the cost of foregone local jobs, government revenue, and potential displacement of energy development (with possible price and environmental effects elsewhere).
Mid‑Atlantic coastal residents, homeowners, fishers, and tourism-dependent communities face lower risk of oil spills and coastal pollution because new Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leasing in the Mid‑Atlantic is blocked, helping preserve local marine and coastal ecosystems and tourism/fisheries income.
Americans broadly (current and future generations) benefit from reduced long‑term climate impacts because preventing new offshore fossil fuel development in the Mid‑Atlantic limits additional regional fossil fuel extraction.
Coastal states and local governments that oppose Mid‑Atlantic leasing gain greater regulatory certainty and clarity about federal leasing policy for their waters and communities.
Energy workers, construction workers, and small businesses tied to offshore oil development in the Mid‑Atlantic stand to lose potential jobs and contracts because leasing and related development opportunities are eliminated.
Federal and state governments and taxpayers in the Mid‑Atlantic region could forgo leasing bonuses, royalties, and tax revenue that would have come from Mid‑Atlantic OCS leases.
Residents and environments in other regions could face increased energy development or infrastructure pressures if Mid‑Atlantic activity is displaced, potentially shifting environmental risks elsewhere.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits the Department of the Interior from issuing any new oil or gas leases on the outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area as depicted in the 2024–2029 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program. The bill simply changes the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to remove lease issuance authority for that specific planning area and contains no funding, exceptions, or implementation deadlines.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Deborah K. Ross · Last progress April 10, 2025