To conditionally prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in the Columbia Management Area, and for other purposes.

Bill: 118-hr-8718
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
Introduced: 2024-06-12
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Latest action: action_date: 2024-06-12
text: Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Summaries:

tv_txt: I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8718 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 12, 2024 Ms. Perez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To conditionally prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in the Columbia Management Area, and for other purposes.

1. Prohibition on commercial offshore wind energy development in Columbia Management Area (a) In general Notwithstanding section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act ( 43 U.S.C. 1337 ), no lease, license, permit, or other authorization may be issued for the development of commercial offshore wind energy in the Columbia Management Area unless the Comptroller General determines the results of the study conducted under subsection (b) show that offshore wind projects in the Columbia Management Area do not and will not have adverse impacts on the items described in paragraph (2)(A) of that subsection. (b) Study (1) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall conduct a study to assess the sufficiency of the environmental review processes of the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and any other relevant Federal agency for offshore wind projects in the Columbia Management Area in place as of the date of enactment of this section. (2) Contents The study required under paragraph (1) shall include consideration of the following: (A) The impacts of offshore wind projects in the Columbia Management Area on— (i) marine mammals; (ii) finfish; (iii) shellfish aquaculture; (iv) the commercial and recreational fishing industries, including marine equipment retailers, onshore processors, fish markets, and other shoreside businesses; (v) air quality and greenhouse gas emissions; (vi) cultural, historical, and Tribal resources; (vii) marine invertebrates; (viii) essential fish habitat; (ix) plankton abundance and distribution; (x) recreation and tourism; and (xi) fisheries-dependent communities. (B) How each agency described in paragraph (1) determines which stakeholders to consult with regard to offshore wind projects in the Columbia Management Area and if a timely, comprehensive comment period is provided for local representatives and interested parties with regard to such offshore wind projects. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Columbia Management Area The term Columbia Management Area means the area described in paragraph (1)(ii) of the definition of the term North-South management area in section 660.11 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation). (2) Essential fish habitat The term essential fish habitat has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act ( 16 U.S.C. 1802 ).