[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 87 (Thursday, June 21, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6619-S6620]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mr. Torricelli):
  S. 1086. A bill to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to 
permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the outer 
Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic and North Atlantic planning 
areas; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, today, along with Senator Torricelli, I 
am introducing legislation, the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism, COAST, 
Anti-Drilling Act, to ban oil and gas drilling off the Mid-Atlantic and 
Northern Atlantic coast.
  The people of New Jersey, and other residents of States along the 
Atlantic Coast, do not want oil or gas rigs anywhere near their 
treasured beaches and fishing grounds. Such drilling poses serious 
threats not to our environment, but to our economy, which depends 
heavily on tourism along our shore.
  Until recently, there was no reason to suspect that drilling was even 
a remote possibility. Since 1982, a statutory moratorium on leasing 
activities in most Outer Continental Shelf, OCS, areas has been 
included annually in Interior Appropriations acts. In addition, 
President George H.W. Bush declared a leasing moratorium on many OCS 
areas on June 26, 1990 under section 12 of the OCS Lands Act. On June 
12, 1998, President Clinton used the same authority to issue a 
memorandum to the Secretary of the Interior that extended the 
moratorium through 2012 and included additional OCS areas.
  Given the long-standing consensus against drilling in these areas, I 
was deeply disturbed to discover that on May 31, 2001, the Minerals 
Management Service released a request for proposals, RFP, to conduct a 
study of the environmental impacts of drilling in the Mid- and North-
Atlantic. The RFP noted that ``there are areas with some reservoir 
potential, for example off the coast of New Jersey.'' In addition, the 
RFP explained that the study would be conducted ``in anticipation of 
managing the exploitation of potential and proven reserves.''
  I believe that the RFP was not only inappropriate, but probably 
illegal, and I was pleased when it was rescinded yesterday. However, I 
remain concerned about the Administration's policy with respect to 
offshore drilling. Although some Administration officials have 
indicated that they support the existing moratoria on offshore 
drilling, the President's energy plan and this recent proposed study 
call the Administration's position into question. I have asked the 
President to clarify his position on this issue, and I hope that he 
will use his authority to endorse the existing moratoria.
  In my view, however, it is time for Congress to act to resolve this 
question once and for all. That is why I am introducing the COAST Anti-
Drilling Act. This bill would permanently ban drilling for oil, gas and 
other minerals in the Mid- and North-Atlantic.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues to enact this important 
legislation. Doing so would ensure that the people of New Jersey and 
neighboring States that they need not fear the specter of oil rigs off 
their beaches.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1086

       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 ``Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism 
     Anti-Drilling Act'' or the ``COAST Anti-Drilling Act''.

     SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF OIL AND GAS LEASING IN CERTAIN AREAS 
                   OF THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF.

       Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 
     U.S.C. 1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(p) Prohibition of Oil and Gas Leasing in Certain Areas 
     of the Outer Continental Shelf.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of this section or any other law, the Secretary of 
     the Interior shall not issue a lease for the exploration, 
     development, or production of oil, natural gas, or any other 
     mineral in--
       ``(1) the Mid-Atlantic planning area; or
       ``(2) the North Atlantic planning area.''.

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