Bill Text: VA HB787 | 2010 | Regular Session | Prefiled

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Offshore energy resources; production & development permitted 50 miles off Atlantic shoreline.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 43-0)

Status: (Passed) 2010-04-13 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0756) [HB787 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2010-HB787-Prefiled.html

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10102366D
HOUSE BILL NO. 787 Offered January 13, 2010 Prefiled January 12, 2010 A BILL to amend and reenact §67-300 of the Code of Virginia, relating to offshore energy resources. ----------
Patrons-- Villanueva, Bell, Richard P., Bell, Robert B., Carrico, Cleaveland, Cline, Cole, Comstock, Cosgrove, Cox, J.A., Crockett-Stark, Edmunds, Garrett, Gear, Gilbert, Greason, Howell, W.J., Hugo, Iaquinto, Ingram, Kilgore, Knight, Landes, Lohr, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., Massie, Merricks, Morefield, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Orrock, Peace, Pogge, Purkey, Scott, E.T., Stolle, Tata, Ware, R.L. and Wright; Senator: Wagner
---------- Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §67-300 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

CHAPTER 3. OFFSHORE NATURAL GAS AND WIND ENERGY RESOURCES.

§67-300. Offshore energy resources.

A. In recognition of the need for energy independence, it shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to determine:

1. Determine the extent of oil and natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline, including appropriate federal funding for such an investigation; and

2. Permit the production and development of oil and natural gas resources 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline.

B. The policy of the Commonwealth shall further support the inclusion of the Atlantic Planning Areas in the Minerals Management Service's draft environmental impact statement with respect to oil and natural gas exploration, production, and development 50 miles or more off the Atlantic shoreline. Nothing in this Act shall be construed as a policy statement on the executive or Congressional moratoria on production and development of natural gas off the Atlantic shoreline.

BC. It shall be the policy of the Commonwealth to support federal efforts to examine the feasibility of offshore wind energy being utilized in an environmentally responsible fashion.