SB1396: Offshore energy resources; exploratory, etc. activity of submerged lands off Atlantic shoreline.

SENATE BILL NO. 1396
Offered January 19, 2007
A BILL to amend and reenact § 67-300 of the Code of Virginia, relating to offshore energy resources.
Patron-- Wagner

Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor

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.