Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act

Bill: 118-hr-970
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Waltz, Michael [R-FL-6]
Introduced: 2023-02-09
Policy area: Energy
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-21
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-09
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act</b></p> <p>This bill establishes a moratorium on energy development (e.g., offshore wind development) in specified areas of the Gulf of Mexico until June 30, 2032. </p> <p>Until that date, the Department of the Interior may not conduct certain energy development activities in any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium also applies to other areas of the Outer Continental Shelf&#8212;the South Atlantic Planning Area, the Straits of Florida Planning Area, or any area west of the Military Mission Line in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area&#8212;if energy exploration, leasing, or development in that area has been identified as having any adverse effect on national security, military readiness, or the Department of Defense's testing capabilities.</p> <p>However, Interior may issue leases in those areas for environmental conservation purposes, including the purposes of shore protection, beach nourishment and restoration, wetlands restoration, and habitat protection.</p>

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 970 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 9, 2023 Mr. Waltz (for himself, Ms. Salazar , Mr. Diaz-Balart , Mr. Gaetz , Mr. Rutherford , Mr. Posey , Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida , and Mr. Gimenez ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources , and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish a moratorium on energy development in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act . 2. Moratorium on energy development in certain areas of Gulf of Mexico (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Military Mission Line The term Military Mission Line has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 ( 43 U.S.C. 1331 note; Public Law 109–432 ). (2) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (b) Moratorium Effective during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on June 30, 2032, the Secretary shall not offer for leasing, preleasing, or any related activity for energy development of any kind— (1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico; or (2) any area of the outer Continental Shelf described in subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection (d), if oil, gas, wind, or any other form of energy exploration, leasing, or development in that area has been identified in a report under that subsection as having any adverse effect on the national security of the United States or the military readiness or testing capabilities of the Department of Defense. (c) Environmental exceptions Notwithstanding subsection (b), the Secretary may issue leases in areas described in that subsection for environmental conservation purposes, including the purposes of shore protection, beach nourishment and restoration, wetlands restoration, and habitat protection. (d) Reports (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and not later than June 30, 2031, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Appropriations and Armed Services of the Senate and the Committees on Appropriations and Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report that describes the impact of oil, gas, wind, and any other form of energy exploration, leasing, or development in areas of the outer Continental Shelf described in paragraph (2) on the national security of the United States and the military readiness and testing capabilities of the Department of Defense. (2) Areas described The areas of the outer Continental Shelf referred to in paragraph (1) are the following: (A) Any area west of the Military Mission Line in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area. (B) The South Atlantic Planning Area. (C) The Straits of Florida Planning Area.