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MEMORIALIZING THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENACT LEGISLATION REVISING OR REQUIRING REVISIONS TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES FEDERAL OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS BOUNDARIES ESTABLISHED BY THE BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT OF THE UNTIED STATES DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR TO PROTECT SOUTH CAROLINA'S INTERESTS WITH RESPECT TO COMMERCIAL ENERGY LEASES IN THESE DISTRICTS.
Whereas, the boundaries of the Outer Continental Shelf Administrative Districts established off the southeastern Atlantic coastal states by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of the United States Department of Interior were set by BOEM without negotiation by the affected states; and
Whereas, now that BOEM has called for information for commercial leasing for wind power in near-shore tracts BOEM describes as "off North Carolina"; and
Whereas, while this State is not opposed to the development of near shore commercial wind power, our reliance on natural resources and habitats for our recreational and commercial fishing industries and coastal tourism, among other concerns, makes it necessary that we have the opportunity to provide maximum input and guidance with respect to commercial leasing impacting our shore line; and
Whereas, the "off North Carolina" description of BOEM's Docketed Case BOEM-2012-0088, Federal Register Volume 77, No. 240, relating to the leasing blocks in that case belie the fact that many of the proposed leasing areas are off South Carolina and that some of the southern-most lease blocks are due east of this State's Winyah Bay jetties; and
Whereas, in the future, possible commercial development of other forms of energy development, including oil and gas exploration in the outer continental shelf, precedents being established currently with respect to near-shore wind power development leasing could result in South Carolina's loss of considerable revenue sharing associated with deep water drilling activities and comments from this State to BOEM with respect to such exploration or lease sales may get lesser consideration than those provided by North Carolina as a result of the current BOEM administrative boundaries. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the General Assembly, by this resolution, memorializes the Congress of the United States to enact legislation revising or requiring revisions of Southeastern United States federal outer continental shelf administrative district boundaries established by BOEM of the United States Department of Interior to protect South Carolina's interests with respect to commercial energy leases in these districts.
Be it further resolved that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate, the members of this state's delegation in the Congress of the United States, and the United States Secretary of the Interior.
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