Official Summaries

This joint resolution nullifies the final rule issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) titled Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources and published on September 3, 2024.

The rule requires operators and lessees conducting oil and gas exploration or development on the Outer Continental Shelf and that are seeking BOEM approval for such activities to also provide BOEM with an archaeological report for the area of potential effects. The report must identify potential archaeological resources (material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years old and that are of archaeological interest) on the sea floor. The rule modified regulations that only required such a report when a BOEM regional director has reason to believe that an archaeological resource may be present in the lease area. 

This joint resolution rescinds a requirement for lessees and operators to submit an archaeological report with any oil and gas exploration or development plan they submit to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for approval of activities proposed on the Outer Continental Shelf. (An archaeological report identifies material remains of human life or activities that are at least 50 years old and that are of archaeological interest.)

Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies BOEM's final rule titled Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources and published on September 3, 2024.

Nullifying this rule requires BOEM to reinstate regulations that were previously in effect and authorized BOEM to require an archaeological report only if a BOEM regional director has reason to believe that an archaeological resource may be present in the lease area.

Current Full Text

[119th Congress Public Law 3]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 139 STAT. 8]]

Public Law 119-3
119th Congress

                            Joint Resolution


 
  Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, 
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy 
      Management relating to ``Protection of Marine Archaeological 
         Resources''. <<NOTE: Mar. 14, 2025 -  [S.J. Res. 11]>> 

    Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 
States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves the 
rule submitted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management relating to 
``Protection of Marine Archaeological Resources'' (89 Fed. Reg. 71160 
(September 3, 2024)), and such rule shall have no force or effect.

    Approved March 14, 2025.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S.J. Res. 11:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 171 (2025):
            Feb. 25, considered and passed Senate.
            Mar. 6, considered and passed House.

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