Bills
| 3.23.22

Expanding Offshore Drilling On Both Coasts (H.R. 4899)

Do you support or oppose this bill?

What is H.R. 4899?

(Updated January 21, 2018)

H.R. 4899 would expand the production of domestic energy resources. By increasing oil and natural gas drilling offshore, on publicly owned land, and in coastal regions, H.R. 4899 promises to open up "at least 50 percent" of the areas determined to have the most oil and gas resources for 5-year leases. 


Those leases would then be bid on via Internet auctions. Areas off the coasts of Virginia, South Carolina, the Gulf states, and southern California are named specifically.

This bill would also phase in a new revenue sharing formula for coastal states to grant them a 37.5 percent portion of the revenues received by the U.S. This would divide the revenues to states based on their proximity to a leased track within 200 miles.

H.R. 4899 would ban the Bureau of Ocean Energy from creating or enforcing any limitations on coastal and marine spatial planning. 

Argument in favor

Federal regulations are handcuffing American energy independence. This bill would lower energy costs and create jobs in the oil industry.

Argument opposed

Remember the BP oil spill? This bill all but guarantees a sequel. Expect higher Big Oil profits and no savings at the pump.

Impact

People who live near U.S. natural resources, coastal communities, American energy production, public lands, marine ecosystems, drinking water quality, employment in the energy sector, and federal agencies that oversee public lands.

Cost of H.R. 4899

The CBO estimates that H.R. 4899 would reduce direct spending by $695 million from 2015-2019 and by $1.7 billion from 2015-2024.

Additional Info

In Depth:

H.R. 4899 would eliminate the Minerals Management Service (MMS) — those currently responsible for monitoring how energy and mineral resources are leased and developed on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) property. In its place, H.R. 4899 would create three different agencies within the Department of the Interior to oversee the “safe” and “responsible” development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands.

Supporters of this bill see H.R. 4899 as an opportunity to lower domestic gas prices, create more jobs in the energy sector, and take advantage of the natural resources already in the country. Those opposed to this bill doubt that it will be able to lower gas prices across the nation, while putting public land in danger of oil spills and other disasters.

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