Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires the Secretary of Interior to conduct lease sales for offshore oil and gas drilling.

Highlights:

• Requires the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a total of 29 lease sales for oil and gas drilling as follows (Sec. 3):
  
  • In 2012:
  • 1 lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico;
  • In 2013:
  • 1 lease sale in the mid-Atlantic;
  • 3 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico;
  • 1 lease sale off the coast of Southern California; and
  • 2 lease sales off the coast of Alaska;
  • In 2014:
  • 1 lease sale off the coast of Southern California;
  • 1 lease sale in the mid-Atlantic;
  • 2 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico; and
  • 2 lease sales off the coast of Alaska;
  • In 2015:
  • 1 lease sale in the mid-Atlantic;
  • 1 lease sale in the north Atlantic;
  • 1 lease sale off the coast of South Carolina; and
  • 3 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico;
  • In 2016;
  • 3 lease sales off the coast of Alaska; and
  • 3 lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico; and
  • In 2017:
  • 1 lease sale off the coast of Southern California;
  • 1 lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico; and
  • 1 lease sale in the mid-Atlantic.

• Requires the Secretary of the Interior to consult with the governors and state legislatures of California and South Carolina in order to determine which areas off the coasts of those states will be made available for lease (Sec. 8).

• Prohibits exploration, development or production of oil or natural gas on any of the leases issued by this bill if such activities would conflict with military operations (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Full Bill Text