SECTION 1. PROTECTIVE APPROACH TO OIL AND GAS 
LEASING, EXPLORATION, AND DEVELOPMENT 
ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF. 
(a) REVISED
NATIONAL
OUTER
CONTINENTAL 
SHELF POLICY.—Section 3 of the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331) is amended by striking para-
graph (3) and inserting the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(3) while the outer Continental Shelf is a vital 
national resource reserve held by the Federal Gov-
ernment for the public, any leasing, exploration, or 
development of the outer Continental Shelf nec-
essarily impacts the marine environment and coastal 
environment, so the protection and maintenance 
(and, when necessary, restoration) of the marine en-
vironment and coastal environment is of primary im-
portance and leasing, exploration, or development of 
the outer Continental Shelf will be authorized in lim-
ited areas only when sound science shows that such 
activities can proceed with minimal risk to the 
health of the marine environment and coastal envi-
ronment.’’. 
(b) PROTECTIVE MANDATE.—Such section is further 
amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) DECLARATION OF POL-
ICY.—’’ before ‘‘It is hereby declared’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(b) PROTECTIVE APPROACH TO LEASING, EXPLO-
RATION, AND DEVELOPMENT.—The leasing, exploration, 
and development of oil and gas resources of the outer Con-
tinental Shelf may be authorized only if— 
‘‘(1) the Secretary has a thorough under-
standing of the marine environment and coastal en-
vironment impacted by the activity and an environ-
mental baseline, the risks of exploration or develop-
ment, and the potential consequences of accidents 
and other emergencies; and 
‘‘(2) the Secretary determines, on the basis of 
sound science, that risks are minimal, rigorous safe-
ty measures are in place and will be enforced, and 
there is a demonstrated ability to mount an effective 
response to accidents in real-world conditions.’’. 
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES IN IM-
PORTANT ECOLOGICAL AREAS OF OUTER 
CONTINENTAL SHELF. 
Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act 
(43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by inserting ‘‘sub-
ject to subsection (i),’’ before ‘‘existing’’; and 
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(2) by adding at the end the following new sub-
section: 
‘‘(i) The Secretary may not approve for inclusion in 
an oil and gas leasing program under this section any area 
of the outer Continental Shelf that, by itself or in a net-
work, has distinguishing ecological characteristics, is im-
portant for maintaining habitat heterogeneity or the via-
bility of a species, or contributes disproportionately to the 
health of an ecosystem, including its biodiversity, function, 
structure, or resilience. In designating an important eco-
logical area of outer Continental Shelf, the Secretary 
should give particular consideration to— 
‘‘(1) areas of high productivity or diversity; 
‘‘(2) areas that are important for feeding, mi-
gration, or the lifecycle of species; and 
‘‘(3) areas of biogenic habitat, structure form-
ing habitat, or habitat for endangered or threatened 
species.’’. 
Æ 
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