Bill Summary
This legislation, titled the "Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of 2025," aims to prevent any further drilling in the Arctic Ocean. It prohibits the Secretary of the Interior from issuing or extending any lease or authorization for the exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or other minerals in Arctic areas of the outer Continental Shelf. The term "Arctic" is defined in this legislation as it is used in the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984. This bill amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and adds a new subsection to enforce the prohibition of drilling in the Arctic Ocean.
Possible Impacts
1. Citizens living in communities along the Arctic Ocean may no longer have to worry about the potential environmental and economic impacts of offshore drilling in their region.
2. Companies that rely on offshore drilling in the Arctic Ocean for their business operations may have to find alternative sources of oil and gas, potentially resulting in job losses and financial implications.
3. Environmental groups and activists who have been advocating for the protection of the Arctic Ocean may feel a sense of victory and relief with the passage of this legislation.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2848 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2848
To prohibit drilling in the Arctic Ocean.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 10, 2025
Mr. Huffman (for himself, Mr. Levin, Ms. Bonamici, Ms. Barragan, Mr.
Connolly, Mr. Beyer, Ms. Brownley, Ms. Jayapal, Mr. Nadler, Ms. Castor
of Florida, Ms. Norton, Mr. Peters, and Mr. Cohen) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural
Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit drilling in the Arctic Ocean.
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 ``Stop Arctic Ocean Drilling Act of
2025''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION OF OIL AND GAS LEASING IN ARCTIC 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:
``(q) Prohibition of Oil and Gas Leasing in Arctic Areas of the
Outer Continental Shelf.--
``(1) Definition of arctic.--In this subsection, the term
`Arctic' has the meaning given the term in section 112 of the
Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
``(2) Prohibition.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Act or any other law, the Secretary of the Interior shall
not issue or extend a lease or any other authorization for the
exploration, development, or production of oil, natural gas, or
any other mineral on Arctic areas of the outer Continental
Shelf.''.
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