S.1486 - Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025; COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025) aims to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit offshore drilling in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. The bill, introduced in the Senate, seeks to prevent the issuance of leases or authorizations for oil, natural gas, or mineral exploration, development, or production in these specific areas. The planning areas are defined by reference to the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program published by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
The bill explicitly targets specific regions along the Atlantic coast and the Straits of Florida, reflecting a focused effort to protect these areas from potential environmental risks associated with offshore drilling. The proposed legislation is intended to safeguard marine ecosystems and coastal economies that rely on tourism and fishing.
If enacted, this bill would have long-term implications for energy policy and environmental conservation in the United States.
Expected Effects
The likely effect of this bill is a permanent ban on new offshore drilling in the specified Atlantic and Florida coastal areas. This would mean no new leases or authorizations would be granted for oil and gas exploration, development, or production in these regions.
This would preserve the marine environments and potentially boost tourism and related industries in those areas. However, it could also limit future energy resource development and potentially increase reliance on other energy sources or regions.
Potential Benefits
- Environmental Protection: Prevents potential oil spills and damage to marine ecosystems.
- Tourism Boost: Protects coastal economies that rely on tourism and recreational activities.
- Preservation of Marine Habitats: Safeguards critical habitats for marine life, including endangered species.
- Reduced Risk of Coastal Pollution: Minimizes the risk of pollution from drilling operations affecting coastal communities.
- Alignment with Climate Goals: Supports a transition away from fossil fuels and towards cleaner energy sources.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduced Energy Production: Limits domestic oil and gas production, potentially increasing reliance on foreign sources.
- Economic Impact on Energy Sector: Could negatively affect companies involved in offshore drilling and related industries.
- Potential Job Losses: May lead to job losses in the oil and gas sector in the affected regions.
- Increased Energy Costs: Could potentially increase energy costs for consumers due to reduced supply.
- Limited Resource Exploration: Prevents the exploration of potentially valuable energy resources in the prohibited areas.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) by regulating activities that could affect interstate commerce, such as energy production and environmental protection. Congress has the power to regulate activities that substantially affect interstate commerce, and this bill could be argued to do so by managing offshore resources and preventing environmental damage that could impact coastal economies.
However, some might argue that the bill infringes on states' rights by limiting their ability to potentially benefit from offshore resource development. The Tenth Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states, but this is balanced by the federal government's authority over navigable waters and interstate commerce.
Overall, the bill's constitutionality is likely to be upheld under the Commerce Clause, given the broad interpretation the Supreme Court has given to this clause.
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).