SB1396: Offshore energy resources; exploratory, etc. activity of submerged lands off Atlantic shoreline.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 67-300 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 67-300. Offshore natural gas and wind resources.
A. In recognition of the need for energy independence, it
shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to determine
the extent of natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic
shoreline, including appropriate federal funding for such an investigation the
Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service. The
policy of the Commonwealth shall further support the inclusion of the Atlantic
Planning Areas in the Minerals Management Service's draft
environmental impact statement for further study and
analysis and possible lease sales as part of the Department of the Interior's
2007-2012 Five Year Leasing Plan with respect to natural gas
exploration 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline. Nothing in this Act
shall be construed as a policy statement on the executive or Congressional
moratoria on production and development of natural gas off the Atlantic
shoreline. It shall further be the
policy of the Commonwealth to urge the President of the United States to
revoke the administrative withdrawal from exploratory and
leasing activity of submerged lands that are 50
miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline of the Commonwealth.
B. It shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to examine the feasibility of offshore wind energy being utilized in an environmentally responsible fashion.