Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025
The Central Coast of California Conservation Act of 2025 would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to ban oil and gas leasing in the Central California Planning Area. If enacted, the Secretary of the Interior would be prohibited from issuing any lease for exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in that planning area. The bill is aimed at stopping new offshore drilling activity in Central California to protect the coastline, environment, and related economic interests. The proposal would apply prospectively to future leasing decisions; it does not state that existing leases would be affected, but would prevent new leases in the designated area. The bill is introduced in the 119th Congress with sponsors including Rep. Panetta and several co-sponsors, and was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition scope: The bill would bar the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in the Central California Planning Area.
- 2Legal mechanism: It adds a new subsection (q) to Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, creating a blanket prohibition for that specific area.
- 3Prospective effect: The prohibition would apply to future leasing decisions in the Central California Planning Area; it does not specify retroactive cancellation of existing leases.
- 4Scope of area: The ban specifically covers the Central California Planning Area, leaving other offshore areas potentially eligible for leasing under current law.
- 5Governance and enforcement: The Secretary of the Interior would be responsible for implementing this prohibition; the text does not spell out enforcement details beyond the leasing ban.