H.R. 2252House115th Congress (2017-2019)In Committee

Coastal Economies Protection Act

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 3:08 PM UTC

The Coastal Economies Protection Act would add a ten‑year pause on new oil and natural‑gas leasing, pre‑leasing, and related actions on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid‑Atlantic, South Atlantic, Straits of Florida, and the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium starts when the law takes effect and runs until June 30, 2027. It does not change any rights under leases that were issued before the law’s enactment.

Key Provisions

Adds a moratorium provision to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act that bars the Secretary of the Interior from offering leases or pre‑leases in the specified planning areas.
The pause applies from the law’s enactment date through June 30, 2027.
Existing leases granted before the moratorium’s start remain valid and are not affected.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

May 11, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

April 28, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

April 28, 2017

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

May 11, 2017

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued April 28, 2017

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 2252

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2017

Mr. Sanford (for himself and Mr. LoBiondo) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to place a ten-year moratorium on oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities on the Outer Continental Shelf in the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas and in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Coastal Economies Protection Act.

Moratorium on oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the outer continental shelf

Section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(i)

Moratorium on oil and natural gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the outer continental shelf

(1)

Moratorium

Effective during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this subsection and ending on June 30, 2027, the Secretary shall not offer for leasing, preleasing, or any related activity on the following geographic areas of the outer Continental Shelf:

(A)

The North Atlantic planning area.

(B)

The Mid-Atlantic planning area.

(C)

The South Atlantic planning area.

(D)

The Straits of Florida Planning Area.

(E)

The area of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico described in section 104(a) of the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (title I of division C of Public Law 109–432; 43 U.S.C. 1331 note).

(2)

Limitation on effect

Nothing in this subsection affects any right under any lease issued under this Act before the date of the enactment of this subsection.