110 HR 6735 IH: Bolster America’s Resources through U.S. House of Representatives 2008-07-31 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 6735 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 31, 2008 Mr. Hobson introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources A BILL To terminate the application of restrictions on exploration, development, and production of oil and gas in areas of the outer Continental Shelf adjacent to Cuba.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Bolster America’s Resources through Responsible Exploratory Leasing Act or the BARREL Act.

2.

Termination of prohibitions on expenditures for, and withdrawals from, offshore oil and gas leasing for areas of OCS adjacent to Cuba

(a)

Prohibitions on expenditures

All provisions of Federal law that prohibit the expenditure of appropriated funds to conduct oil and natural gas leasing and preleasing activities for any area of the Outer Continental Shelf of the United States shall have no force or effect with respect to any location on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Straits of Florida that is— (1)inside the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Planning Area or the Straits of Florida Outer Continental Shelf Planning Area; (2)within 50 miles of the United State-Cuba marine boundary; (3)west of 83º W longitude; (4)east of 86º41′ W longitude; and (5)outside of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. (b)

Revocation of withdrawals

All withdrawals of Federal submerged lands of the Outer Continental Shelf from leasing, including withdrawals by the President under the authority of section 12(a) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341(a)), are hereby revoked and are no longer in effect with respect to the leasing of any location on the Outer Continental Shelf described in subsection (a) for exploration for, and development and production of, oil and natural gas. (c)

Termination of restriction on use of funds

Section 104 of division F of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008 (Public Law 110–161; 121 Stat. 2118) shall not apply with respect to any location on the Outer Continental Shelf described in subsection (a). (d)

Commencement of lease sales

The Secretary of the Interior shall promptly conduct lease sales for locations on the Outer Continental Shelf described in subsection (a) in accordance with section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337) and other applicable provisions of Federal law.