HR 5861

110th CONGRESS
2d Session

H. R. 5861

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 22, 2008

Ms. CASTOR introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

---

A BILL

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Florida Coastal Protection Act'.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS PRELEASING, LEASING, AND RELATED ACTIVITIES IN CERTAIN AREAS OFF THE COAST OF FLORIDA.

Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`(i) Prohibition of Oil and Natural Gas Preleasing, Leasing, and Related Activities in Certain Areas Off the Coast of Florida-

`(1) PROHIBITION- Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, the Secretary may not offer for oil and gas leasing or preleasing or any related activity, any tract located in--

`(A) any area of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico that is referred to in section 104(a) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006;

`(B) the portion of the South Atlantic Planning Area south of 30 degrees 43 minutes North Latitude; or

`(C) the Straits of Florida Planning Area.

`(2) LIMITATION ON EFFECT- Nothing in this subsection affects any right under any lease issued under this Act before the date of enactment of this subsection.'.

END