An Act To Prohibit Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Drilling and Exploration
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 0955
Committee Amendment CA_A_H425 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 710, L.D. 955, Bill, "An Act To 
Prohibit Offshore Oil and Natural Gas Drilling and Exploration" 
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. 38 MRSA c. 3, sub-c. 2-C is enacted to read: 
SUBCHAPTER 2-C 
PROHIBITION ON OIL AND NATURAL GAS EXPLORATION, 
DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION 
§570-AA. Definitions 
As used in this subchapter, unless the context othe1wise indicates, the following 
terms have the following meanings. 
1. Development. 
11Development
means the activities conducted subsequent to the 
exploration for and discovery of oil or natural gas resources, but prior to the production of 
those resources, to facilitate the production of those resources, including. but not limited 
to, geophysical activities, drilling. platform construction, pipeline construction and the 
operation of all onshore support facilities specifically constrncted or designed to support 
those activities. 
2. Exploration, 
11Exploration
means the activities conducted to locate oil or natural 
gas resources. prior to the development or production of those resources. including, but 
not limited to, the drilling of wells for the purpose of locating and determining the size 
and scope of those resources. 
3. Federal waters. "Federal waters" means those waters and submerged lands lying 
seaward to the waters of the State that are subject to federal jurisdiction and control. 
4. Oil terminal facility. "Oil terminal facility" has the same meaning as in section 
542, subsection 7. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ·A" to H.P. 710, L.D. 955 
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5. North Atlantic planning area. "North Atlantic planning area" means an area of 
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federal waters in the outer Continental Shelf adjacent to the coastal waters of the states of 
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and New 
Jersey. 
6. 
Production. 
"Production" means the activities conducted subsequent to the 
exploration, discovery and development of oil or natural gas resources including, but not 
limited to, the removal or extraction of those resources, related field operations, the 
transportation of those resources over the waters of the State to onshore facilities, 
work.over drilling and the operation, monitoring and maintenance of the removal or 
extraction process. 
"Production" does not include the transfer of oil or natural gas 
resources to or from the waters of the State, including both onloading and offloading of 
oil or natural gas resources between an oil terminal facility and a vessel or between 
vessels, except that "production" does include the transfer of oil or natural gas resources 
to or from the waters of the State when such transfer involves oil or natural gas resources 
removed or extracted from federal waters in the north Atlantic planning area. 
7. Vessel. "Vessel" has the same meaning as in section 542, subsection 11. 
§570-BB. Prohibition 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a person may not perform 
or cause to be performed, and the department may not permit, approve or otherwise 
authorize, any oil or natural gas exploration, development or production in, on or under 
the waters of the State.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority report of the committee, amends the bill to 
clarify the prohibition on oil or natural gas exploration, development or production 
activities as follows. 
1. It amends certain definitions to more clearly delineate the activities regulated and 
to specify that the transfer of oil or natural gas resources to or from the waters of the 
State, including both onloading and offloading of oil or natural gas resources between an 
oil terminal facility and a vessel or between vessels, is not prohibited under the bill. 
2. 
It removes language specifically prohibiting exploration, development or 
production activities that may adversely affect the waters of the State. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT