New England Coastal Protection Act
The New England Coastal Protection Act would permanently prohibit the federal government from issuing oil or natural gas leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to add a new subsection (q) stating that, notwithstanding any other law, the Secretary of the Interior may not issue such leases for exploration, development, or production in any area off these five states. The aim is to shield New England’s coastal ecosystems, fisheries, tourism, and communities from offshore drilling and its risks. The bill targets only new leasing; it does not explicitly void existing leases, though it blocks future leasing in the specified areas.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
- 2Amends Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act by adding new subsection (q) to enact the prohibition.
- 3Uses a “notwithstanding” clause, meaning the prohibition supersedes other laws or provisions that might otherwise allow leasing in those areas.
- 4Applies specifically to exploration for, development, or production of oil or natural gas; bans new leases in those offshore areas.
- 5The prohibition is a permanent policy change for the defined offshore zones, unless the law is amended in the future.