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”.
Key claim: HJRES62 would nullify the September 2024 BOEM final rule that required Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lessees and operators to submit archaeological reports identifying potential seafloor archaeological resources when seeking BOEM approval.
Abstract
(HJRES62 · 119th Congress) 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. Latest action (2025-02-26): Referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
Why this matters
The BOEM archaeological reporting rule sits at the intersection of offshore energy permitting costs and protection of submerged cultural resources on the Outer Continental Shelf. A CRA disapproval would eliminate a mandatory pre-activity survey requirement for all OCS lessees, reducing operator compliance burdens but narrowing systematic identification of shipwrecks and prehistoric sites before seafloor-disturbing activities. The resolution reflects ongoing congressional oversight of Biden-era offshore energy rules through the Congressional Review Act.