PROTECT Florida Act

Bill: 115-hr-5014
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-4]
Introduced: 2018-02-14
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Atlantic Ocean

Florida

Gulf of Mexico

Licensing and registrations

Marine and coastal resources, fisheries

Oil and gas
Latest action: action_date: 2018-02-22
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-02-14
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Preserving Recreation, Oceans, Tourism, Environment, and Coastal Towns in Florida Act or the</b> <b>PROTECT Florida Act</b></p> <p>This bill extends the moratorium until June 30, 2029, on oil and gas exploration, preleasing or leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico.</p> <p>The bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to establish a moratorium until June 30, 2029, on oil and gas exploration, preleasing or leasing in the (1)Straits of Florida Planning Area, and (2) the area in the South Atlantic Planning Area that is south of the northernmost lateral seaward administrative boundary of Florida.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5014 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 14, 2018 Mr. Rutherford (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis , Mr. Buchanan , Mr. DeSantis , Mr. Gaetz , Mr. Mast , Mr. Francis Rooney of Florida , Ms. Ros-Lehtinen , Mr. Ross , and Mr. Yoho ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To provide for a moratorium on oil and gas leasing and exploration on the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida until 2029, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving Recreation, Oceans, Tourism, Environment, and Coastal Towns in Florida Act or the PROTECT Florida Act . 2. Moratorium on oil and gas leasing and exploration on the outer Continental Shelf off coast of Florida (a) Extension of Gulf coast moratorium Section 104(a) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 note) is amended— (1) by striking 2022 and inserting 2029 ; and (2) by inserting , and may not issue a permit for oil and gas exploration (as such term is defined in section 2 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act) in after related activity . (b) Establishment of Atlantic coast moratorium Section 12 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1431 ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (g) Moratorium on oil and gas leasing off coast of Florida (1) In general The Secretary may not offer for oil and gas leasing, preleasing, or any related activity, and may not issue a permit for oil and gas exploration in— (A) any area in the Straits of Florida Planning Area; and (B) any area in the South Atlantic Planning Area that is south of the northernmost lateral seaward administrative boundary of the State of Florida. (2) Application This subsection shall apply during the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on June 30, 2029. .