§ 1801. — Congressional findings.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC1801]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 36--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Sec. 1801. Congressional findings
The Congress finds and declares that--
(1) the demand for energy in the United States is increasing and
will continue to increase for the foreseeable future;
(2) domestic production of oil and gas has declined in recent
years;
(3) the United States has become increasingly dependent upon
imports of oil from foreign nations to meet domestic energy demand;
(4) increasing reliance on imported oil is not inevitable, but
is rather subject to significant reduction by increasing the
development of domestic sources of energy supply;
(5) consumption of natural gas in the United States has greatly
exceeded additions to domestic reserves in recent years;
(6) technology is or can be made available which will allow
significantly increased domestic production of oil and gas without
undue harm or damage to the environment;
(7) the Outer Continental Shelf contains significant quantities
of oil and natural gas and is a vital national resource reserve
which must be carefully managed so as to realize fair value, to
preserve and maintain competition, and to reflect the public
interest;
(8) there presently exists a variety of technological, economic,
environmental, administrative, and legal problems which tend to
retard the development of the oil and natural gas reserves of the
Outer Continental Shelf;
(9) environmental and safety regulations relating to activities
on the Outer Continental Shelf should be reviewed in light of
current technology and information;
(10) the development, processing, and distribution of the oil
and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, and the siting of
related energy facilities, may cause adverse impacts on various
States and local governments;
(11) policies, plans, and programs developed by States and local
governments in response to activities on the Outer Continental Shelf
cannot anticipate and ameliorate such adverse impacts unless such
States, working in close cooperation with affected local
governments, are provided with timely access to information
regarding activities on the Outer Continental Shelf and an
opportunity to review and comment on decisions relating to such
activities;
(12) funds must be made available to pay for the prompt removal
of any oil spilled or discharged as a result of activities on the
Outer Continental Shelf and for any damages to public or private
interests caused by such spills or discharges;
(13) because of the possible conflicts between exploitation of
the oil and gas resources in the Outer Continental Shelf and other
uses of the marine environment, including fish and shellfish growth
and recovery, and recreational activity, the Federal Government must
assume responsibility for the minimization or elimination of any
conflict associated with such exploitation;
(14) the oil and gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf
are limited, nonrenewable resources which must be developed in a
manner which takes into consideration the Nation's long-range energy
needs and also assures adequate protection of the renewable
resources of the Outer Continental Shelf which are a continuing and
increasingly important source of food and protein to the Nation and
the world; and
(15) funds must be made available to pay for damage to
commercial fishing vessels and gear resulting from activities
involving oil and gas exploration, development, and production on
the Outer Continental Shelf.
(Pub. L. 95-372, title I, Sec. 101, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 630.)
Short Title of 1988 Amendment
Pub. L. 100-610, title I, Sec. 1, Nov. 5, 1988, 102 Stat. 3176,
provided that: ``This Act [probably should be `This title', which
amended section 1815 of this title] may be cited as the `Outer
Continental Shelf Operations Indemnification Clarification Act of
1988'.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 95-372 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
chapter, sections 1344 to 1356 of this title, and section 237 of Title
30, Mineral Lands and Mining, amending sections 1331 to 1334, 1337,
1340, and 1343 of this title, sections 1456, 1456a, and 1464 of Title
16, Conservation, and section 6213 of Title 42, The Public Health and
Welfare, and enacting provisions set out as notes under sections 1348
and 1811 of this title] may be cited as the `Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act Amendments of 1978'.''
