COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 1486
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Energy
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 (COAST Anti-Drilling Act of 2025) aims to protect ocean environments and support coastal tourism by permanently banning new oil and gas drilling activities in specific regions of the U.S. outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The OCS refers to the submerged lands, seabed, and subsoil beyond state waters but within U.S. jurisdiction, typically used for resource extraction like oil and gas.
Key Provisions
- Permanent Prohibition on Leasing: The bill amends Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) by adding a new subsection (q), which forbids the Secretary of the Interior (through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM) from issuing any leases or authorizations for exploring, developing, or producing oil, natural gas, or other minerals in designated planning areas.
- Defined Planning Areas: The restricted zones, as mapped in BOEM's 2024-2029 National OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program (published September 29, 2023), include:
- North Atlantic Planning Area.
- Mid-Atlantic Planning Area.
- South Atlantic Planning Area.
- Straits of Florida Planning Area.
- Scope of Ban: The prohibition applies regardless of other laws and covers all new activities, but it does not affect existing leases or operations predating the bill.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Addition to OCSLA: This introduces a new, explicit permanent ban in Section 8 of the OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1337), which previously allowed leasing in these areas under multi-year programs like the 2024-2029 plan, subject to environmental reviews and public input.
- Override of Prior Authorizations: It supersedes any conflicting provisions in the OCSLA or other laws, shifting from periodic leasing decisions (often influenced by energy needs) to a fixed, indefinite restriction on these Atlantic regions.
- No Retroactive Impact: Existing leases remain valid, but no new ones can be issued, narrowing the scope of future OCS energy development compared to current flexible leasing frameworks.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Department of the Interior and BOEM would need to revise future leasing programs (e.g., excluding these areas from the 2024-2029 and subsequent plans), potentially reducing administrative workload for environmental assessments in banned zones but limiting revenue from lease sales.
- On Citizens and Coastal Communities: Could enhance ocean health by reducing risks of spills or pollution, benefiting tourism, fishing, and recreation in Atlantic states; however, it might indirectly affect energy prices if domestic production is curtailed.
- On International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though it aligns U.S. policy with global efforts to curb fossil fuel expansion, potentially influencing diplomacy on climate and ocean conservation with neighboring countries like Canada or those in the Caribbean.
- Broader Economic Effects: Shifts focus away from oil/gas in these areas toward renewables or other uses, possibly boosting eco-tourism but challenging energy-dependent sectors.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Environmental and Conservation Groups: Benefit from stronger ocean protections (e.g., supporters like senators who introduced the bill).
- Tourism and Coastal Businesses: Gain from safer, cleaner waters, including fishing industries, resorts, and ports in states like New Jersey, Rhode Island, California (via co-sponsors), and Florida.
- Oil and Gas Industry: Faces restrictions on expansion, potentially leading to lost opportunities for companies like ExxonMobil or Chevron in Atlantic exploration.
- Coastal States and Local Governments: Affected communities in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Florida may see varied outcomes—environmental gains versus potential job losses in energy sectors.
- Federal Agencies: BOEM and the Department of the Interior must enforce the ban, impacting their planning and revenue projections (OCS leases generate billions in royalties).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal Implications: Reinforces environmental safeguards under the OCSLA by embedding a statutory ban, which could withstand challenges if tied to public interest in conservation; however, it might invite lawsuits from industry groups claiming economic harm or arbitrary restrictions (though courts generally uphold congressional authority over federal offshore resources).
- Constitutional Implications: Falls within Congress's enumerated powers under the Property Clause (U.S. Const. art. IV, § 3) to manage federal lands and waters, and the Commerce Clause for regulating interstate economic activities like energy production—no apparent conflicts with due process or takings clauses, as it targets future actions only.
- Political Implications: Signals a bipartisan (though largely Democratic-led) push toward climate priorities, potentially influencing future energy policy debates; it could energize environmental advocacy but draw opposition from pro-drilling lawmakers, affecting national energy independence discussions amid global transitions to renewables.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-10: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
- 2025-04-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025 — issued 2025-04-10 — PDF (3 pages)