WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), chairman of the Senate Energy Subcommittee, and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, led a group of senators in introducing the Conservation of America’s Shoreline Terrain and Aquatic Life (COASTAL) Act.
This legislation will strengthen the current offshore energy revenue sharing program under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and to create a new revenue sharing program for future offshore energy production in Alaska.
Joining Cassidy and Murkowski in introducing this legislation are U.S. Senators John Kennedy (R-LA), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Doug Jones (D-AL).
Louisiana constitutionally dedicates revenues from offshore energy production to pay for conservation, restoration, and environmental projects to preserve and restore its eroding coastline. However, under current law, Gulf states only receive a 37.5 percent share of revenues from energy produced in federal waters compared to states that receive 50 percent from onshore energy production on federal land.
“Louisiana’s coastline infrastructure is critical for America’s energy and economic security,” said Dr. Cassidy. “This legislation creates equal treatment for Louisiana’s offshore revenue sharing and secures the funds needed to strengthen our state’s coastal restoration efforts.”
“This bill makes it clear that Louisiana needs an equitable portion of the revenue made off our coast from offshore drilling. Louisiana is leading the U.S. toward energy independence. However, we have to invest in restoring our coastline and ensuring the safety of our coastal families and jobs from hurricanes. This bill will allow us to make those investments,” said Senator Kennedy.
In 2018, the Department of Interior distributed more than $8.9 billion in revenues from natural resource extraction. Onshore state and local governments received more than $1.5 billion or 17.7 percent. Gulf States shared approximately $188 million or 2.1 percent.
The COASTAL Act would also increase the revenue available for the Land & Water Conservation Fund’s financial assistance to states. Under current law, the Land & Water Conservation Fund receives 12.5 percent of revenues generated in the Gulf of Mexico. However, cumulative dollars available to GOMESA states and the Fund are capped at $500 million. The COASTAL Act solves this issue by eliminating this cap.
The legislation also protects GOMESA payments from future sequestration cuts and makes oil and gas leases from 2000-2006 eligible for future GOMESA payments to Gulf coast states. According to the Department of Interior, in 2018 Gulf Coast states could have received an additional $247 million for environmental protection were more offshore leases GOMESA eligible.
The EIA recently reported new oil and gas fields in the Gulf of Mexico that will contribute to the overall growth in U.S. production. Eleven of those fields are GOMESA eligible under current law and another eight would also qualify under this proposed legislation.
Finally, the bill creates an additional authorized use of dollars for planning, engineering, operations and maintenance of federally authorized projects.