California Ocean Protection Act of 1995

Summary: California Ocean Protection Act of 1995 - Establishes a California Ocean Protection Zone consisting of waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast of California that are outside the waters of the State of California and that portion of the outer Continental Shelf underlying the waters. 
Prohibits:  (1) the head of a Federal agency from issuing a lease, permit, or license for exploration for, or development or production of, minerals in or from the Zone; (2) a person from engaging in such activities after the date of the cancellation, expiration, transfer, relinquishment, or termination of a lease, permit, or license for such activities, the date of the suspension of operations associated with such activities under regulations implementing the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act as in effect on January 1, 1986, or the date on which a lease, permit, or license for such activities in any way becomes inactive; or (3) an agency head from issuing a lease, permit, or license for ocean incineration or harmful ocean dumping within the Zone or for any onshore facility that facilitates ocean incineration or harmful ocean dumping within the Zone. 
Declares that this Act is not intended to regulate, restrict, or prohibit commercial or recreational fishing, or other harvesting of ocean life in the Zone.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``California Ocean Protection Act of 
1995''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the coast of California possesses unique historical, 
        ecological, educational, recreational, economic, and research 
        values that are appropriate for protection under Federal law;
            (2) the threat to the coast of California, a national 
        treasure, continues to intensify as a result of fossil fuel 
        exploration and development, mineral extraction, and the 
        burning and dumping of toxic and hazardous wastes;
            (3) the activities referred to in paragraph (2) could 
        result in irreparable damage to the coast of California; and
            (4) the establishment of an ocean protection zone off the 
        coast of California would enhance recreational and commercial 
        fisheries, and the use of renewable resources within the zone.

SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF CALIFORNIA OCEAN PROTECTION ZONE.

    There is hereby established a California Ocean Protection Zone. The 
Zone consists of--
            (1) waters of the Exclusive Economic Zone off the coast of 
        California that are outside the waters of the State of 
        California; and
            (2) that portion of the outer Continental Shelf underlying 
        the waters.
SEC. 4. RESTRICTIONS.

    (a) Mineral Exploration, Development, and Production.--
            (1) Issuance of leases, permits, and licenses.--
        Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the head of a 
        Federal agency may not issue a lease, permit, or license for 
        exploration for or development or production of minerals in or 
        from the Zone.
            (2) Exploration, development, and production.--
                    (A) In general.--Notwithstanding any other 
                provision of law, a person may not engage in 
                exploration for or development or production of 
                minerals in or from the Zone after the date--
                            (i) of the cancellation, expiration, 
                        transfer, relinquishment, or termination of a 
                        lease, permit, or license in effect on the date 
                        of enactment of this Act pursuant to which the 
                        exploration, development, or production is 
                        carried out;
                            (ii) of the suspension of operations 
                        associated with the exploration, development, 
                        or production under regulations described in 
                        subparagraph (B); or
                            (iii) on which a lease, permit, or license 
                        for the exploration, development, or production 
                        in any way becomes inactive, as determined by 
                        the Secretary of the Interior under regulations 
                        described in subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Regulations.--The regulations referred to in 
                subparagraph (A) are those regulations implementing the 
                Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et 
                seq.), as in effect on January 1, 1986.
    (b) Ocean Incineration and Dumping.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the head of a Federal agency may not issue a lease, 
permit, or license for--
            (1) ocean incineration or harmful ocean dumping within the 
        Zone; or
            (2) any onshore facility that facilitates ocean 
        incineration or harmful ocean dumping within the Zone.

SEC. 5. FISHING.

    This Act is not intended to regulate, restrict, or prohibit 
commercial or recreational fishing, or other harvesting of ocean life 
in the Zone.

SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.

    As used in this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
            (2) Development.--The term ``development'' has the meaning 
        provided in section 2(l) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
        Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(l)).
            (3) Exclusive economic zone.--The term ``Exclusive Economic 
        Zone'' means the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States, 
        as defined by Presidential Proclamation 5030 of March 10, 1983.
            (4) Exploration.--The term ``exploration'' has the meaning 
        provided in section 2(k) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
        Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(k)).
            (5) Harmful ocean dumping.--The term ``harmful ocean 
        dumping'' has such meaning as is provided by the Administrator, 
        in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies whom 
        the Administrator determines to be appropriate. The term does 
        not include--
                    (A) a de minimis disposal of vessel waste;
                    (B) the disposal of dredged material that--
                            (i) would meet the requirements for 
                        disposal under the criteria that apply under 
                        section 103 of the Marine Protection, Research, 
                        and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 U.S.C. 1413), 
                        including regulations promulgated under such 
                        section; or
                            (ii) is disposed of pursuant to a permit 
                        issued pursuant to such section;
                    (C) a discharge that is authorized under a National 
                Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit issued 
                pursuant to section 402 of the Federal Water Pollution 
                Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1342); and
                    (D) a disposal that is carried out by an 
                appropriate Federal agency under title I of the Marine 
                Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 (33 
                U.S.C. 1411 et seq.).
            (6) Lease.--The term ``lease'' has the meaning provided in 
        section 2(c) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
        U.S.C. 1331(c)).
            (7) Minerals.--The term ``minerals'' has the meaning 
        provided in section 2(q) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
        Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(q)).
            (8) Outer continental shelf.--The term ``Outer Continental 
        Shelf'' has the meaning provided in section 2(a) of the Outer 
        Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(a)).
            (9) Person.--The term ``person'' has the meaning provided 
        in section 2(d) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
        U.S.C. 1331(d)).
            (10) Production.--The term ``production'' has the meaning 
        provided in section 2(m) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
        Act (43 U.S.C. 1331(m)).
            (11) Territorial sea.--The term ``territorial sea'' means 
        the territorial sea proclaimed in Presidential Proclamation 
        5928, dated December 27, 1988.
            (12) Zone.--The term ``Zone'' means the California Ocean 
        Protection Zone established under section 3 of this Act.