A 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".
SJRES.11 (119th Congress)
Retrieved on 2025-05-15
Related Bills
Summary
This bill is a disapproval motion concerning a rule enacted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which sought to provide protections for marine archaeological resources. By stating Congress does not approve this rule, the bill effectively nullifies any legal enforcement of the regulation that was intended to safeguard important underwater archaeological sites. This legislative move indicates a substantial policy shift in how the federal government will manage and protect such resources, potentially leading to increased risks for these historical assets.
Key provisions of the bill highlight the immediate impact on the implementation of the proposed regulation. In practice, this means that the valuable archaeological sites previously considered for protection will continue to remain vulnerable to activities such as energy exploration and other disruptive uses of ocean resources. The lack of legal framework for protection may also lead to debates around the balance of resource development versus cultural heritage conservation.
This bill, therefore, raises critical concerns regarding the preservation of underwater heritage and poses a significant change in the management philosophy of marine archaeological resources. Stakeholders, particularly those in the conservation community and archaeological fields, may view this as a retreat from previously established protections, while industries involved in marine resource exploitation may see potential for greater access and fewer restrictions on operations.
Topics
Questions About This Bill
What kinds of underwater archaeological sites might be affected by this bill?
The bill talks about underwater archaeological sites that are protected by a rule from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. This means it is looking at things like old shipwrecks, sunken cities, or places where people used to live underwater a long time ago. The bill disapproves this protection rule, so those kinds of sites might not be protected anymore, which means they could be disturbed or damaged.
How will the removal of protections change activities like energy exploration in the ocean?
The bill is about removing protections for marine archaeological resources, which means it will be easier for companies to explore and work in the ocean for energy, like oil and gas. Without these protections, they might not have to be as careful about disturbing important underwater sites. This change could lead to more energy exploration activities in the ocean, but it might also make it harder to protect valuable historical and cultural sites that are underwater.
Will there be any new risks to historic shipwrecks or artifacts because of this bill?
The bill is saying that Congress doesn't agree with a rule that was meant to protect historic shipwrecks and artifacts in the ocean. Since this bill disapproves that protection rule, it could mean that there are new risks to these shipwrecks and artifacts because they won't be protected as they were before. So yes, there may be new risks to historic shipwrecks or artifacts because of this bill.
Are there people or groups that are unhappy about this bill, and why?
The sections of the bill don't mention any specific people or groups who are unhappy about it, or why they might be unhappy. It only states that Congress is disapproving a certain rule related to protecting underwater archaeological resources. Without more information, we can't say who might be unhappy or their reasons.
How could this bill impact jobs in industries that explore marine resources?
This bill is about stopping a rule that was meant to protect special underwater historical sites, like old shipwrecks or ancient artifacts. If this bill passes, it could make it easier for companies that work in the ocean, like those looking for oil, gas, or other marine resources, to do their jobs without worrying about these protections.
So, in simple terms, if this bill goes through, those companies might be able to work more freely in the ocean, which could lead to new jobs in those industries, but it might also mean that important historical underwater sites could be damaged or destroyed.
What is the role of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in this situation?
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, often called BOEM, is responsible for making rules about how to protect important things under the ocean, like historical artifacts. In this situation, Congress did not agree with a rule that BOEM proposed about protecting these special underwater items. Because of this, they decided that the rule won’t be allowed to be used anymore. Essentially, BOEM's job is to suggest rules for protecting ocean resources, but Congress can say no to those rules if they disagree.
What does it mean for a regulation to be nullified?
When a regulation is nullified, it means that it is canceled and no longer has any power or authority. In this case, Congress is saying that a specific rule about protecting underwater historical sites, made by a government group, is not valid anymore and cannot be enforced. It's like saying that a rule in a game is no longer in play, so everyone has to ignore it.
How will this bill affect scientists and researchers studying marine archaeology?
This bill will make it harder for scientists and researchers who study marine archaeology because it disapproves a rule designed to protect marine archaeological resources. This means that there may be fewer protections for important underwater sites and artifacts, making it more challenging for scientists to study and preserve them.