Sponsors (9)
The bill trades expanded protection for Mid‑Atlantic coastal environments, beaches, and fisheries (supporting biodiversity and tourism) against foregone offshore oil‑and‑gas jobs and lease revenue and a modest risk of increased reliance on other energy sources.
Coastal communities, fishermen, and marine life in the Mid‑Atlantic face lower risk of oil spills and habitat disruption because the bill prevents new offshore drilling in the region, helping preserve biodiversity and supporting long‑term climate goals.
People and businesses that rely on Mid‑Atlantic beaches and seafood (tourism operators, local restaurants, and recreational users) benefit from reduced pollution risk, which supports tourism and seafood industry stability.
Workers and contractors tied to Mid‑Atlantic offshore oil and gas development could lose prospective jobs and business opportunities if new leasing is blocked.
Federal and state governments (and therefore taxpayers) may receive less revenue from lease sales and royalties that would have arisen from Mid‑Atlantic offshore leasing.
Limiting regional offshore supply options may increase reliance on other domestic or foreign energy sources, with possible effects on energy prices or supply stability.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Statutorily blocks the Interior Secretary from issuing any oil or gas leases in the Mid‑Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf planning area.
Prohibits the Interior Department from issuing any Outer Continental Shelf oil or gas lease for exploration, development, or production in the Mid‑Atlantic Planning Area as shown in the 2024–2029 proposed leasing program, effectively withdrawing that planning area from future oil and gas leasing. The prohibition is added directly to the statute governing OCS leasing, limiting the Secretary’s authority to lease in that specified Mid‑Atlantic area. The change is narrow in scope (it targets one OCS planning area) but has direct effects on energy companies, workers, and coastal communities that would otherwise participate in or be affected by offshore oil and gas activity, while preserving the area from new federal leasing for those purposes.
Official title: To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw the outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area from disposition, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 10, 2025 by Deborah K. Ross · Last progress April 10, 2025