# American Shores Protection Act of 2023

This bill extends a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling off the coasts of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina for ten more years, pushing the expiration date from 2022 to 2032. Currently, there's already a moratorium in place that prevents companies from drilling for oil and gas in these waters, and this bill simply keeps that protection in effect longer. The bill also adds two new areas to the drilling ban: the South Atlantic Planning Area (which covers waters off Georgia and South Carolina) and the Straits of Florida Planning Area (the waters between Florida and Cuba).

The practical effect is that oil and gas companies won't be able to lease new drilling rights in these coastal waters for the next decade. This matters because offshore drilling can pose environmental risks like oil spills, which could damage beaches, harm marine life, and hurt tourism and fishing industries that depend on clean coastal waters. For people living in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, this means their beaches and coastal economies get continued protection from the potential impacts of oil and gas operations.

However, the bill includes an important exception: any oil and gas leases that were already valid before this law passes can continue operating. So existing drilling operations won't be shut down. Additionally, the government can still issue leases in these areas for environmental purposes like beach restoration, wetlands protection, and habitat conservation. This means the ban isn't absolute—it specifically targets new oil and gas drilling while allowing activities that protect the environment.

American Shores Protection Act of 2023

Waltz, Michael

American Shores Protection Act of 2023 This bill extends a moratorium on oil and gas drilling in the Gulf of Mexico through June 30, 2032, and expands the moratorium to include the South Atlantic Planning Area and the Straits of Florida Planning Area.