HOUSE BILL REPORT

HJM 4002

BYRepresentatives Basich, S. Wilson, Rust, Sayan, Jacobsen, Wang, Jones, Nelson and Heavey; by request of Joint Select Committee on Marine and Ocean Resources

Requesting Congress to amend the outer continental shelf lands act.

House Committe on Natural Resources & Parks

Majority Report:  Do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Belcher, Chair;K. Wilson, Vice Chair; Beck, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Dellwo, Ferguson,R. Fisher, Fuhrman, Hargrove, Raiter and Sayan.

House Staff:Bill Koss (786-7129)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 6, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) of the United states stretches seaward from the end of state-controlled water (three nautical miles from shore) to a point 200 nautical miles from shore.  In this area, the federal government controls all resources.  For the oil, gas, and mineral resources of the ocean, the Minerals Management Service (MMS) of the Department of the Interior is the administering agency.  Its authority comes from the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).

The OCSLA directs MMS to offer oil and gas lease sales.  The sales are described in a series of five year plans, the most recent of which contains a lease sale off the coast of Washington and Oregon in 1992.

In the process of preparing for the lease sale, the MMS and the state confer periodically.  Subjects of the discussion include adequacy of data, jurisdictional matters, options for deferral or withdrawal of the sale or portions of the sale, and lease stipulations.

Opportunity for a state to intervene in a lease sale formally occurs at a few discrete points.  Many governors and state agencies feel the state's role is not given sufficient weight in the prelease process.  In 1987, Governor Gardner joined with the governors of Oregon, California, Florida, and Massachusetts in filing suit against the MMS over lack of state participation in the lease decision process.  A decision is expected in early 1989.

SUMMARY:

The state asks Congress to amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to include a process requiring the Secretary of the Interior to more fully consult and confer with the governor prior to and after oil and gas lease sales and that the governor's recommendations be given more weight in the decision making process.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Rep. Dick Nelson; Dave McCraney, Governor's Ocean Task Group

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    Development of Washington's coast for oil and gas exploration and production should take place within the context of a national energy policy that emphasizes efficiency and conservation.  The state should take the lead where the federal government has failed.  With the potential benefits of development accruing to the nation and the risks falling to the state, Washington should be permitted a larger role in the decision making.  Because the coastal reserves are likely small, Washington should not be a high priority area for exploration.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.