Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act

Coastal and Marine Economies Protection Act

This bill revises provisions related to oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf.

(Sec. 2)The Department of the Interior must publicize reports regarding onsite inspections of each facility on the Outer Continental Shelf that is subject to safety and environmental regulations. Interior must also publicize information about each payment made into the Ocean Energy Safety Fund, including the facility name, operator name, and the payment amount.

(Sec. 3)The bill prohibits Interior from offering any tract for oil and gas leasing or preleasing in the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf planning area (North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Straits of Florida) or the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf planning area (Washington/Oregon, Northern California, Central California, and Southern California).

(Sec. 4)Interior must collect non-refundable fees from the operators of facilities subject to inspection under this bill, including inspection fees for offshore energy facilities and oil drilling rigs. All fees collected must be deposited into the Ocean Energy Safety Fund.

(Sec. 6)Interior must report to Congress on whether this bill poses a risk to national security due to potential increase in dependence on foreign oil.

(Sec. 7)The Government Accountability Office must report on the impacts of offshore drilling on coastal communities and coastal economies.

(Sec. 8)The bill prohibits conducting geological or geophysical activities in support of oil, gas, or methane hydrate exploration and development in any area located in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas of the Outer Continental Shelf.

(Sec. 9)The Department of Commerce must conduct a study to determine the potential economic impact of offshore drilling on tourism, commercial fishing, recreational fishing, boating, transportation, and other waterfront-related and coastal-related businesses.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov