[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 790 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 790

To prohibit issuance of any lease or other authorization by the Federal 
 Government that authorizes exploration, development, or production of 
 oil or natural gas in any marine national monument or national marine 
sanctuary or in the fishing grounds known as Georges Bank in the waters 
                         of the United States.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 2, 2009

 Mr. Markey of Massachusetts (for himself, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, 
  Mr. Delahunt, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Tierney, Mr. Welch, Mr. Hodes, Ms. 
   Shea-Porter, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Hinchey, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. 
  Capuano, Mr. Kennedy, and Mr. Lynch) introduced the following bill; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To prohibit issuance of any lease or other authorization by the Federal 
 Government that authorizes exploration, development, or production of 
 oil or natural gas in any marine national monument or national marine 
sanctuary or in the fishing grounds known as Georges Bank in the waters 
                         of the United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Georges Bank Preservation Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON LEASING IN CERTAIN FEDERAL PROTECTED AREAS.

    (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal 
law, no lease or other authorization may be issued by the Federal 
Government that authorizes exploration, development, or production of 
oil or natural gas in--
            (1) any marine national monument or national marine 
        sanctuary; or
            (2) the fishing grounds known as Georges Bank in the waters 
        of the United States, which is one of the largest and 
        historically important fishing grounds of the United States.
    (b) Identification of Coordinates of Georges Bank.--The Secretary 
of Commerce, after publication of public notice and an opportunity for 
public comment, shall identify the specific coordinates that delineate 
Georges Bank in the waters of the United States for purposes of 
subsection (a).
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