Legislative Hearing: Protecting Coastal Communities and Ocean Resources from Offshore Drilling

Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Date: Thursday, May 13, 2021 Time: 01:00 PM Presiding: The Honorable Alan Lowenthal, Chair

On Thursday, May 13, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. (EDT), the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will host a virtual, fully remote legislative hearing titled, “Protecting Coastal Communities and Ocean Resources from Offshore Drilling,” including the following bills and other related measures.  

  • H.R. 570 (Rep. Donald McEachin) To require operators of offshore oil and gas facilities to report failures of critical systems to the Secretary of the Interior, and for other purposes. Offshore Accountability Act
  • H.R. 2643 (Rep, Julia Brownley) To require the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement to further develop, finalize, and implement updated regulations for offshore oil and gas pipelines to address long-standing limitations regarding its ability to ensure active pipeline integrity and address safety and environmental risks associated with decommissioning, and for other purposes. Offshore Pipeline Safety Act
  • H.R. 2836 (Rep. Kathy Castor) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas preleasing, leasing, and related activities in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Florida, and for other purposes. Florida Coastal Protection Act
  • H.R. 3116 (Rep. Frank Pallone) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to permanently prohibit the conduct of offshore drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, North Atlantic, and Straits of Florida planning areas. COAST Anti-Drilling Act
  • H.R. 3053 (Rep. Mike Levin) To amend the Outer Continental Shelf Land Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing in the Southern California planning area. American Coasts and Oceans Protection Act
  • H.R. 3048 (Rep. Jared Huffman) To amend the Other Continental Shelf Lands Act to prohibit oil and gas leasing in certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. North Pacific Ocean Protection Act 

Witness List

Panel I

Rep. Donald McEachin, Virginia, 4th District

Rep. Julia Brownley, California, 26th District

Rep. Kathy Castor, Florida, 14th District

Rep. Mike Levin, California, 49th District

Rep. Jared Huffman, California, 2nd District

Rep. Frank Pallone, New Jersey, 6th District

Panel II

Ms. Terra Lawson-Remer (testimony)

Supervisor, District 3 San Diego County, CA

Mr. Tom Kies (testimony)

President, Business Alliance for Protecting the Atlantic Coast President, Carteret County NC

Chamber of Commerce Morehead City, NC

Ms. Cynthia Sarthou (testimony)

Executive Director, Healthy Gulf New Orleans, LA

Dr. Cliff Kapono (testimony)

Professional Surfer, Chemist, and Journalist Hilo, HI

Mr. Chett C. Chiasson (testimony)

Executive Director

Greater Lafourche Port Commission Cut Off, LA