New England Coastal Protection Act of 2025

This bill proposes to establish a permanent prohibition on oil and gas leasing in the outer Continental Shelf (OCS) regions off the New England coast. It specifically amends Section 8 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to prevent the Secretary from issuing any new leases for the exploration, development, or production of oil or natural gas. This legislative action would apply to the federal waters adjacent to the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut . The primary goal is to safeguard these specific coastal areas from potential environmental impacts associated with offshore drilling activities, thereby protecting marine ecosystems and local economies.