H.R. 674

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 674 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 674

To prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster 
Management Area 1 in the Gulf of Maine, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 23, 2025

Mr. Golden of Maine (for himself and Mr. Van Drew) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To prohibit commercial offshore wind energy development in Lobster 
Management Area 1 in the Gulf of Maine, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Northeast Fisheries Heritage 
Protection Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON COMMERCIAL OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN 
LOBSTER MANAGEMENT AREA 1.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The New England fishing industry has been an integral 
part of the history, culture, and economy of the region for 
over 400 years.
(2) In 2023, the New England commercial fisheries landed an 
estimated 415,966,992 pounds of catch, valued at 
$1,350,533,650, which supports thousands of fishermen, their 
families, and communities that depend on these ocean resources.
(3) The United States lobster fishery, with Maine and 
Massachusetts producing 93 percent of the lobster harvest, is 
one of the most valuable fisheries in the country with 
commercial landings totaling 113,007,821 pounds valued at 
$582,433,794.
(4) Lobster Management Area 1 in the Gulf of Maine is a 
critical and highly productive fishing ground for halibut, 
tuna, flounder, redfish, black sea bass, monkfish, mackerel, 
rock and sand crab, mussels, hardshell and softshell clams, 
oysters, scallops, conchs, squid, and lobster.
(5) In 2024, the Biden Administration's Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management announced the Final Wind Energy Area for 
commercial offshore wind development in the Gulf of Maine, 
which excluded all of Lobster Management Area 1.
(6) President Trump recently issued an Executive Order 
temporarily withdrawing from disposition for wind energy 
leasing all areas within the outer Continental Shelf citing the 
importance of marine life ensuring that the United States is 
able to maintain a robust fishing industry.
(7) The permanent protection of Lobster Management Area 
from commercial energy leasing and development would avoid 
conflict with the New England commercial and recreational 
fishing industries and preserve a vital fishing ground for 
future generations.
(b) Prohibition on Commercial Offshore Wind Development in Lobster 
Management Area 1.--Notwithstanding section 8 of the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337), no lease, license, permit, or other 
authorization may be issued for the development of commercial offshore 
wind energy in Lobster Management Area 1.
(c) Gulf of Maine Offshore Wind Project Environmental Review 
Process Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Comptroller General shall 
conduct a study to assess the sufficiency of the environmental 
review processes of the national Marine Fisheries Service, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, and any other relevant 
Federal agency for offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine 
in place as of the date of enactment of this section.
(2) Contents.--The study required under paragraph (1) shall 
include consideration of the following:
(A) The impacts of offshore wind projects in the 
Gulf of Maine on--
(i) marine mammals, including whales;
(ii) finfish;
(iii) benthic resources;
(iv) the commercial and recreational 
fishing industries, including marine equipment 
retailers, onshore processors, fish markets, 
and other shoreside businesses;
(v) air quality and greenhouse gas 
emissions;
(vi) cultural, historical, and Tribal 
resources;
(vii) marine invertebrates;
(viii) essential fish habitat (as that term 
is defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 
U.S.C. 1802));
(ix) plankton abundance and distribution;
(x) recreation and tourism; and
(xi) fisheries-dependent communities.
(B) How each agency described in paragraph (1) 
determines which stakeholders to consult with regard to 
offshore wind projects in the Gulf of Maine and if a 
timely, comprehensive comment period is provided for 
local representatives and interested parties with 
regard to such offshore wind projects.
(d) Lobster Management Area 1 Defined.--In this section, the term 
``Lobster Management Area 1'' has the meaning given the term ``EEZ 
Nearshore Management Area 1'' in section 697.18 of title 50, Code of 
Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation).
<all>