Outer Continental Shelf amendments H.R. 1614. The vote is on passage of the bill to amend the 1953 law governing oil and gas exploration and leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf. By improving environmental safeguards, the Congress hoped to prevent further lawsuits of the kind that have stalled OCS development in the past. The bill did the following things: (1) authorized the Secretary of Interior to develop a five year plan for offshore leasing and production, which would include the recommendations of affected states; (2) required the best and safest technology to be used in all OCS operations; (3) allowed the Secretary of Interior to cancel a lease for environmental reasons; (4) established an Offshore Oil Pollution Fund and a Fisherman's Gear Compensation Fund to cover the costs of damages caused by offshore drilling; (5) increased the role of state and local governments in the program; (6) mandated the use of alternative bidding systems in 20% to 50% of the new leases to give smaller companies a better chance to compete; (7) authorized the Secretary of Interior to set clean air standards for the Outer Continental Shelf; and (8) provided that the law apply to existing as well as proposed OCS activities. Carter supported the bill. Passed 291-91. February 2, 1978. YES is the correct vote.