Bill > S2011

This bill, the Offshore Production and Energizing National Security Act of 2015, aims to reform the administration of the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), which refers to the submerged lands, subsoil, and seabed lying seaward of the U.S. coastline. The Secretary of the Interior, the official responsible for managing these areas, would oversee these reforms. Key provisions include reforms to the OCS leasing program, mandating the Secretary to make available for leasing areas with significant undiscovered oil and gas resources and to include areas requested by state governors. It also establishes a moratorium on oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico, specifically near military mission lines and within 50 miles of Florida's coastline. The bill requires the implementation of the proposed 2017-2022 oil and gas leasing program, including specific lease sales in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and modifies the distribution of OCS revenues to Gulf producing states, including Florida. Furthermore, it addresses national defense by ensuring that OCS activities do not conflict with military operations and streamlines environmental impact statement requirements for lease sales. The bill also includes provisions for lease sales in Alaska's Beaufort Sea and Cook Inlet, modifies lease terms for certain leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, and directs a portion of OCS revenues to Alaska. For the Southern Atlantic, it aims to preserve coastal viewsheds by establishing guidelines for production facilities and includes provisions for lease sales and revenue sharing with Atlantic states, alongside initiatives to enhance geological and geophysical education. Finally, the bill establishes a Tribal Resilience Program to help Native American tribes adapt to climate change and creates a Tribal Resilience Fund, and it also removes restrictions on the export of domestically produced crude oil, with certain exceptions for national security.