Florida Coastal Protection Act

The Florida Coastal Protection Act amends the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to establish a permanent prohibition on new oil and natural gas activities in designated areas off Florida's coast. Specifically, it prevents the Secretary from issuing any new leases or authorizations for exploration, development, or production in these regions. The prohibited areas include the Eastern Gulf of Mexico as defined by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, a specified portion of the South Atlantic Planning Area south of 30 degrees 43 minutes North Latitude, and the entire Straits of Florida Planning Area . These planning areas are referenced according to the 2024-2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program. This legislation clarifies that existing leases issued before its enactment date will remain unaffected by these new prohibitions.