Back to all bills
Standard Summary
Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs
The Defend our Coast Act would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to withdraw the Mid-Atlantic outer continental shelf (OCS) from disposition. Specifically, it would bar the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas on the OCS in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area as depicted in the 2024-2029 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (Sept. 2023). In essence, the bill would prevent offshore oil and gas leasing in the Mid-Atlantic region, signaling a policy choice to protect these coastal areas from offshore drilling. The measure is currently introduced and referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources; no further action has occurred yet.
Key Points
- 1Prohibits leases: The Secretary may not issue leases for exploration, development, or production of oil or gas on the Mid-Atlantic OCS Planning Area.
- 2Specific geographic scope: The restriction applies to the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area as depicted in the 2024-2029 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (Sept. 2023).
- 3Legal mechanism: The prohibition would be added as a new subsection (g) to Section 12 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, clarifying that “disposition” (leasing) is not authorized for this area.
- 4Policy aim: The bill is titled Defend our Coast Act, signaling a coastal-protection objective by shielding the Mid-Atlantic from offshore drilling.
- 5Status: Introduced in the 119th Congress on April 10, 2025; referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources. No enacted law at this time.
Impact Areas
Primary group/area affected- Coastal states in the Mid-Atlantic region (e.g., New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina) and associated workers and communities dependent on coastal economies (fishing, tourism, coastal recreation, etc.).Secondary group/area affected- Oil and gas industry and related service sectors (exploration, drilling, and development companies, subcontractors, equipment suppliers) that would be prevented from leasing in the Mid-Atlantic OCS.- Federal agencies implementing OCS programs (e.g., the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) and state/federal regulators overseeing offshore activities and environmental reviews.Additional impacts- Environmental and coastal protection: reinforces protections for ecosystems, coastal tourism, and fisheries that could be affected by offshore drilling.- Energy policy and markets: removes potential offshore oil/gas leasing opportunities in the Mid-Atlantic, which could influence energy supply planning and regional energy price considerations.- Legal and policy dynamics: creates a targeted withdrawal through statute, which could be revisited by future Congresses or amended by subsequent legislation.The term “Outer Continental Shelf” refers to submerged federal lands beyond state waters where the federal government manages mineral rights, including oil and gas leasing.The “Mid-Atlantic Planning Area” is a defined geographic region in federal offshore planning maps and programs; this bill ties the withdrawal to the area depicted in a specific 2024-2029 leasing program document.
Generated by gpt-5-nano on Oct 31, 2025