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H.R. 310House116th Congress (2019-2021)In Committee

West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019

Sponsored by Jared HuffmanRep. Jared Huffman (D-CA)
Introduced January 8, 2019

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 14, 2026 at 12:04 AM UTC

The West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019 would change federal law to permanently bar any new oil or gas leases on the outer continental shelf (OCS) off the coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington. By amending the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, it stops the Interior Department from allowing exploration, development, or production of offshore oil and natural gas in those states. The rule would affect future offshore drilling projects and any existing leases in those waters.

Key Provisions

  • Adds a new subsection (q) to the OCS Lands Act that explicitly forbids the Secretary of the Interior from issuing any lease for oil or gas exploration, development, or production in OCS areas off California, Oregon, and Washington.
  • The prohibition applies regardless of any other provisions in the law, making the ban permanent and overriding any conflicting statutes.

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

February 5, 2019

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 8, 2019

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.

Natural Resources Committee

January 8, 2019

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources.

Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee

February 5, 2019

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued January 8, 2019

I

116th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 310

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 8, 2019

Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. Takano, Mr. DeSaulnier, Mr. Levin of California, Ms. Roybal-Allard, Mr. DeFazio, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Schrader, Mr. Khanna, Ms. Barragán, Mr. Kilmer, Mr. Rouda, Mr. Garamendi, Mr. Smith of Washington, Mr. Lowenthal, Ms. Eshoo, and Ms. Bonamici) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the West Coast Ocean Protection Act of 2019.

2.

Prohibition of oil and gas leasing on the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of California, Oregon, and Washington

Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:

(q)

Prohibition of Oil and Gas Leasing in Certain Areas of the Outer Continental Shelf

Notwithstanding any other provision of this section or any other law, the Secretary of the Interior shall not issue a lease for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas in any area of the outer Continental Shelf off the coast of the State of California, Oregon, or Washington.

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