Panel Reaches Deal on Drilling Off U.S. Coasts

WASHINGTON, June 19

The agreement, scheduled for a committee vote on Wednesday, would replace a longstanding executive order barring most drilling on the shelf with legislation that would bar drilling in the first 50 miles of coastal waters unless states chose to opt out by vote of their Legislature and the approval of their governor.

In areas between 50 and 100 miles offshore, states would have one year after the legislation is enacted to prohibit drilling for natural gas and three years to prohibit drilling for oil.

NY Times