S.1472 - New England Coastal Protection Act (119th Congress)
Summary
The New England Coastal Protection Act aims to prohibit oil and gas leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of New England. Specifically, it amends Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prevent the Secretary from issuing leases for exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in the specified area. The bill was introduced in the Senate and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill, if enacted, would be to prevent any new oil and gas exploration or extraction activities off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. This would preserve the coastal environment from potential oil spills and related ecological damage. It could also impact energy production and related economic activities in the region.
Potential Benefits
- Environmental Protection: Reduced risk of oil spills and damage to marine ecosystems.
- Tourism & Recreation: Preservation of coastal areas for recreational activities and tourism.
- Fisheries: Protection of fish stocks and the fishing industry from potential pollution.
- Climate Change Mitigation: Reduced potential for increased greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas extraction.
- Property Values: Preservation of coastal property values due to reduced environmental risk.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduced Energy Production: Potential decrease in domestic oil and gas production.
- Job Losses: Possible job losses in the oil and gas industry.
- Increased Energy Costs: Potential increase in energy costs for consumers in the region.
- Reduced Government Revenue: Loss of potential revenue from oil and gas leases.
- Economic Impact: Potential negative economic impact on industries supporting offshore drilling.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Constitution, particularly the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8), which grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, among the several states, and with Indian tribes. This power could be interpreted to extend to regulating activities on the Outer Continental Shelf that may affect interstate commerce or the environment. The bill does not appear to infringe on any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).