U.S. Code » Title 43 » Chapter CHAPTER 36— OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

43 U.S.C. § 1802

Congressional declaration of purposes

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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, § 102, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 631.)Editorial NotesReferences 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.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 21 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 1979–2026 · leading case: Ctr. for Sustainable Econ. v. Sally Jewell, 779 F.3d 588 (D.C. Cir. 2015).
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Ctr. for Sustainable Econ. v. Sally Jewell, 779 F.3d 588 (D.C. Cir. 2015). · cites it 4× “629 (1978) codified at 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (1)-(2)). 7 The Amendment transformed OCSLA from “essentially a carte blanche delegation of authority to the Secretary of Interior,” Watt I, 668 F.”
City of New York v. Chevron Corp., 993 F.3d 81 (2d Cir. 2021). “at 427; 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (1) (acknowledging the regulatory 10 goal of promoting oil resource management policies “to achieve national economic 11 and energy policy goals, assure national security, reduce dependence on foreign 12 sources, and maintain a favorable balance of…”
Vill. of False Pass v. Watt, 565 F. Supp. 1123 (D. Alaska 1983). · cites it 2× “43 U.S.C. § 1802 . In order to accomplish these goals, the act provides for an intricate combination of studies, reports, consultations, permits, plans, and licenses covering every aspect of the leasing and development process and involving federal, state, and local governments…”
Alaska Wilderness League v. Kempthorne, 548 F.3d 815 (9th Cir. 2008). · cites it 2× “" 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (1), (9) (emphases added).”
Michigan Citizens for an Indep. Press v. Richard Thornburgh, 868 F.2d 1285 (D.C. Cir. 1989). “” This view, however, seems to rely on the notion of a "deep pocket” supporting the paper, which is an impermissible consideration under the NPA, 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (5), but see dissent at 2, and furthermore irrelevant in light of basic principles of economics.”
State of Tex. v. Sec'y of Interior, 580 F. Supp. 1197 (E.D. Tex. 1984). · cites it 3× “creation of an oil spill liability fund to facilitate prompt cleanup of oil spills attributable to OCS activity and to pay for damages to public or private interests; g.”
Conservation Law Found. v. Watt, 560 F. Supp. 561 (D. Mass. 1983). · cites it 2× “§ 1801 (14); and the Secretary is required “to balance orderly energy resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments,” 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (2)(B). In his comments on proposed Lease Sale 52, the Governor made recommendations substantially…”
Defenders of Wildlife v. Bureau of Ocean Energy Mgmt., 684 F.3d 1242 (11th Cir. 2012). “” 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (1). BOEM has a responsibility to balance the needs under OCSLA with the requirements of NEPA.”
W. Oil & Gas Ass'n v. Sonoma Cnty., 905 F.2d 1287 (9th Cir. 1990). · cites it 2× “See 43 U.S.C. § 1802 . The district court dismissed appellants’ claims under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(b)(1) because the claims were not ripe and appellants had failed to exhaust their administrative remedies, and under Rule 12(b)(6) because appellants had failed to…”
Energy Action Educ. Found. v. Cecil D. Andrus, 654 F.2d 735 (D.C. Cir. 1980). “Section 102(2), 43 U.S.C. § 1802 (2). 57 . See note 7 supra.”
Energy Action Educ. Found. v. Cecil D. Andrus, 631 F.2d 751 (D.C. Cir. 1979). “43 U.S.C.A. § 1802 (2)(c) (West Supp.1979).”
League of Conservation Voters v. Trump, 363 F. Supp. 3d 1013 (D. Alaska 2019). · cites it 2× “629 , 631-32 (1978) (codified at 43 U.S.C. § 1802 ). Pub. L. No. 83-212, 67 Stat.”
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43 U.S.C. § 1802(1): 1 case
Mayor & City Cncl. Of Balt. V. B.P. P.L.C., 353 A.3d 1142 (Md. 2026).
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