Major Federal Laws
Statutes Governing Coastal Waters Management
The following major laws, enacted over the last half century, are relevant to the discussion of oil and gas development in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), originally enacted in 1953, established Federal jurisdiction over submerged lands on the OCS seaward of State coastal waters (three miles offshore). Under the OCSLA, the Secretary of the Interior is responsible for the administration of mineral exploration and development of the OCS. The OCSLA empowers the Secretary to grant leases to the most highly qualified responsible bidder(s) on the basis of sealed competitive…
