Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act

Preserving the Gulf Test Range to Ensure Military Readiness Act

This bill establishes a moratorium on energy development (e.g., offshore wind development) in specified areas of the Gulf of Mexico until June 30, 2032.

Until that date, the Department of the Interior may not conduct certain energy development activities in any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf of Mexico. The moratorium also applies to other areas of the Outer Continental Shelf—the South Atlantic Planning Area, the Straits of Florida Planning Area, or any area west of the Military Mission Line in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area—if energy exploration, leasing, or development in that area has been identified as having any adverse effect on national security, military readiness, or the Department of Defense's testing capabilities.

However, Interior may issue leases in those areas for environmental conservation purposes, including the purposes of shore protection, beach nourishment and restoration, wetlands restoration, and habitat protection.

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 970 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 970

To establish a moratorium on energy development in certain areas of the 
                Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 9, 2023

 Mr. Waltz (for himself, Ms. Salazar, Mr. Diaz-Balart, Mr. Gaetz, Mr. 
   Rutherford, Mr. Posey, Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida, and Mr. 
   Gimenez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
   Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a moratorium on energy development in certain areas of the 
                Gulf of Mexico, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Preserving the Gulf Test Range to 
Ensure Military Readiness Act''.

SEC. 2. MORATORIUM ON ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN CERTAIN AREAS OF GULF OF 
              MEXICO.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Military mission line.--The term ``Military Mission 
        Line'' has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the 
        Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (43 U.S.C. 1331 
        note; Public Law 109-432).
            (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior.
    (b) Moratorium.--Effective during the period beginning on the date 
of enactment of this Act and ending on June 30, 2032, the Secretary 
shall not offer for leasing, preleasing, or any related activity for 
energy development of any kind--
            (1) any area east of the Military Mission Line in the Gulf 
        of Mexico; or
            (2) any area of the outer Continental Shelf described in 
        subparagraph (A), (B), or (C) of paragraph (2) of subsection 
        (d), if oil, gas, wind, or any other form of energy 
        exploration, leasing, or development in that area has been 
        identified in a report under that subsection as having any 
        adverse effect on the national security of the United States or 
        the military readiness or testing capabilities of the 
        Department of Defense.
    (c) Environmental Exceptions.--Notwithstanding subsection (b), the 
Secretary may issue leases in areas described in that subsection for 
environmental conservation purposes, including the purposes of shore 
protection, beach nourishment and restoration, wetlands restoration, 
and habitat protection.
    (d) Reports.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and not later than June 30, 2031, the 
        Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on 
        Appropriations and Armed Services of the Senate and the 
        Committees on Appropriations and Armed Services of the House of 
        Representatives a report that describes the impact of oil, gas, 
        wind, and any other form of energy exploration, leasing, or 
        development in areas of the outer Continental Shelf described 
        in paragraph (2) on the national security of the United States 
        and the military readiness and testing capabilities of the 
        Department of Defense.
            (2) Areas described.--The areas of the outer Continental 
        Shelf referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
                    (A) Any area west of the Military Mission Line in 
                the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area.
                    (B) The South Atlantic Planning Area.
                    (C) The Straits of Florida Planning Area.
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