HB 1016

Abstract

Offshore energy resources; moratorium on offshore oil and gas development. Prohibits any form of leasing for purposes of exploration, development, or production of oil or gas in Virginia's territorial sea, which encompasses the waters within three nautical miles wide adjacent to Virginia's coast. The measure prohibits state agencies from leasing, or from authorizing or permitting the construction or location of a structure upon, over, or under, any of the submerged and submersible lands within the limits of the territorial sea for the exploration, development, or production of oil or gas. The measure also removes from the Virginia Energy Plan provisions that state that it is the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to determine the extent of oil and natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline and to permit the production and development of oil and natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline. This bill was incorporated into HB 706.