The attached bill not only nullifies most OCS leasing bans, but fundamentally changes the OCS Lands Act provision (Sec. 12(a)) that authorizes such Presidential withdrawals.
The well constructed bill addresses the issues previously raised on the blog. The bill would:
- Revoke all Presidential leasing bans except for the 2020 withdrawals, which could presumably be reversed by President Trump.
- Limit withdrawals to under 150,000 acres (the equivalent of 26 lease blocks of typical size) in total or contiguous with any other withdrawal.
- Limit cumulative withdrawals to 500,000 acres (87 lease blocks) without congressional approval.
- Sunset withdrawals after 20 years.
- Require geological, economic, and security assessments for any future withdrawals.
- Give Congress the authority to review and potentially overturn future withdrawals.
- Ensure that future withdrawals do not contradict an approved Five-Year Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
Does this bill have a chance? Realistically, the prospects are probably not good. Although the bill currently has an impressive list of 24 sponsors, all are Republicans and none are from Florida. Absent support from Florida Republicans and some interior state Democrats, it will be difficult to gain traction.
Bud's Offshore Energy (BOE) 