§ 1802. — Congressional declaration of purposes.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC1802]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 36--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Sec. 1802. Congressional declaration of purposes
The purposes of this chapter are to--
(1) establish policies and procedures for managing the oil and
natural gas resources of the Outer Continental Shelf which are
intended to result in expedited exploration and development of the
Outer Continental Shelf in order to achieve national economic and
energy policy goals, assure national security, reduce dependence on
foreign sources, and maintain a favorable balance of payments in
world trade;
(2) preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources
in the Outer Continental Shelf in a manner which is consistent with
the need (A) to make such resources available to meet the Nation's
energy needs as rapidly as possible, (B) to balance orderly energy
resource development with protection of the human, marine, and
coastal environments, (C) to insure the public a fair and equitable
return on the resources of the Outer Continental Shelf, and (D) to
preserve and maintain free enterprise competition;
(3) encourage development of new and improved technology for
energy resource production which will eliminate or minimize risk of
damage to the human, marine, and coastal environments;
(4) provide States, and through States, local governments, which
are impacted by Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration,
development, and production with comprehensive assistance in order
to anticipate and plan for such impact, and thereby to assure
adequate protection of the human environment;
(5) assure that States, and through States, local governments,
have timely access to information regarding activities on the Outer
Continental Shelf, and opportunity to review and comment on
decisions relating to such activities, in order to anticipate,
ameliorate, and plan for the impacts of such activities;
(6) assure that States, and through States, local governments,
which are directly affected by exploration, development, and
production of oil and natural gas are provided an opportunity to
participate in policy and planning decisions relating to management
of the resources of the Outer Continental Shelf;
(7) minimize or eliminate conflicts between the exploration,
development, and production of oil and natural gas, and the recovery
of other resources such as fish and shellfish;
(8) establish an oilspill liability fund 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;
(9) insure that the extent of oil and natural gas resources of
the Outer Continental Shelf is assessed at the earliest practicable
time; and
(10) establish a fishermen's contingency fund to pay for damages
to commercial fishing vessels and gear due to Outer Continental
Shelf activities.
(Pub. L. 95-372, title I, Sec. 102, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 631.)
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in opening provision, was in the original
``this Act'', meaning Pub. L. 95-372, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 629,
known as the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978, which
enacted this chapter, sections 1344 to 1356 of this title, and section
237 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, amended 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 enacted provisions set out as notes under
sections 1348 and 1811 of this title. For complete classification of
this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 1801 of
this title and Tables.
