H.R. 2886: Defend our Coast Act

This bill, known as the "Defend our Coast Act," aims to amend existing legislation regarding the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) by specifically targeting the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area. Here are the main points of what the bill would do:

Withdrawal of Leasing Rights

The bill proposes to prohibit any new leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in the Mid-Atlantic Planning Area of the Outer Continental Shelf. This would mean that the Secretary of the Interior would not be allowed to issue any leases for these activities in that region.

Regulatory Framework

This amendment is an addition to Section 12 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. It ensures that the specific area described in the bill, as shown in the 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program, is protected from oil and gas extraction activities.

Objectives of the Bill

The overarching intent of the "Defend our Coast Act" is to safeguard the environment in the Mid-Atlantic region by preventing potential negative impacts that may come from oil and gas exploration and production. The bill promotes the idea of environmental protection in ocean and coastal resources by formally removing the prospect of energy development in the specified area.

Implementation

Once enacted, this bill would directly affect the leasing process by preventing any future activities related to oil and gas leasing in the designated region. This could have implications for energy companies, environmental stakeholders, and local communities dependent on a clean ocean environment.

Relevant Companies

• XOM - Exxon Mobil Corporation: As a major oil and gas exploration company, restrictions on new leases could limit opportunities for exploration and production in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• CVX - Chevron Corporation: This company could be affected similarly to Exxon, as the ban on new leases prevents them from potentially accessing oil and gas reserves in that area.
• RDS.A - Royal Dutch Shell plc: As another significant player in the oil industry, Shell's operations could be directly impacted by the inability to lease land in the Mid-Atlantic for exploration and extraction.