Sec. 3. Preserving coastal viewsheds

276 words·~1 min read·/bill/114/s/1279/is/section-3

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Prior to conducting a lease sale authorized under this Act that would offer leases within 30 nautical miles of the coastline, the Secretary shall consult with the Governor of each potentially affected State to establish appropriate lease stipulations for the management of the surface occupancy of the areas between the coastline and 30 nautical miles to mitigate any potential concerns regarding impacts to coastal viewsheds. The Secretary and the State shall consider— restricting the installation of permanent surface production facilities above the waterline for the purpose of production of oil or gas resources in any area that is within 12 nautical miles seaward from the coastline of the State; allowing only subsurface production facilities to be installed in areas that are located between the point that is 12 nautical miles from seaward from the coastline of the State and the point that is 30 nautical miles seaward from the coastline of the State.

If permanent surface facilities are proposed to be installed within 30 nautical miles of the coastline, the Secretary shall not grant approval of the development and production plan unless it is determined that the facility is designed so that the impacts on coastal viewsheds are minimized, to the maximum extent practicable. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, onshore facilities associated with the drilling, development, and production of the oil and gas resources of the South Atlantic planning area within 12 nautical miles seaward of the coastline of a State are allowed.

Nothing described in subsection (a), (b), or

(c)restricts, or gives the States authority to restrict, temporary surface activities related to operations associated with outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases.