To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit leasing in the North Atlantic Planning Area.

This bill would permanently prohibit the federal government from issuing any new leases for oil and gas exploration or drilling in the North Atlantic Planning Area. This specific region covers federal waters off the coasts of New England and Mid-Atlantic states, including Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey.

For citizens, the bill’s primary impact would be to prevent future offshore energy development in these Atlantic waters, effectively protecting the coastline from the potential environmental risks associated with drilling. While there are currently no active oil or gas leases in this area, this legislation would remove the Secretary of the Interior’s authority to open the region to such activities in the future.