An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 112-540 to ensure that protection of the marine and coastal environment is of primary importance in making areas of the outer Continental Shelf available for leasing, exploration, and development rather than expeditious development of oil and gas resources, to prohibit oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development in important ecological areas of the outer Continental Shelf and for other purposes.

1. Adds SEC. __. PROTECTIVE APPROACH TO OIL AND GAS LEASING, EXPLORATION, AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF at the end of title I

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. __. PROTECTIVE APPROACH TO OIL AND GAS LEASING, EXPLORATION, AND DEVELOPMENT ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.

   Inserted: The Secretary of the Interior--

   Inserted: (1) shall not conduct or authorize any leasing, exploration, or development of oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf under a plan required by subsection (k) of section 161 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by section 102 of this Act, unless--

   Inserted: (A) sound science shows that such activities can proceed with minimal risk to the health of the marine environment and coastal environment.

   Inserted: (B) the Secretary has a thorough understanding of the marine environment and coastal environment impacted by the activity and an environmental baseline, the risks of exploration or development, and the potential consequences of accidents and other emergencies; and

   Inserted: (C) the Secretary determines, on the basis of sound science, that risks are minimal, rigorous safety measures are in place and will be enforced, and there is a demonstrated ability to mount an effective response to accidents in real-world conditions;

   Inserted: (2) shall not make available for oil and gas leasing under such a plan any area of the outer Continental Shelf that, by itself or in a network, has distinguishing ecological characteristics, is important for maintaining habitat heterogeneity or the viability of a species, or contributes disproportionately to the health of an ecosystem, including its biodiversity, function, structure, or resilience; and

   Inserted: (3) in determining whether an area is described in paragraph (2), should give particular consideration to--

   Inserted: (A) areas of high productivity or diversity;

   Inserted: (B) areas that are important for feeding, migration, or the lifecycle of species; and

   Inserted: (C) areas of biogenic habitat, structure forming habitat, or habitat for endangered or threatened species.

   Original wording

   At the end of title I (page 6, after line 11) add the following:

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As printed