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".

# Summary of S.J. Res. 11 **What It Does:** This bill nullifies (cancels) a rule issued by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in September 2024 that required oil and gas companies to submit archaeological reports before conducting exploration or drilling on the Outer Continental Shelf. Under the canceled rule, companies had to document potential underwater archaeological sites (human artifacts and remains at least 50 years old) in areas where they planned to operate.

Previously, such reports were only required when a BOEM official had reason to suspect archaeological resources might be present. **Who It Affects:** The primary beneficiaries are oil and gas operators and lease holders working in federal offshore waters, who will no longer need to conduct these archaeological surveys. The bill affects BOEM's ability to protect underwater historical and cultural resources, potentially impacting archaeologists, historians, Native American groups with cultural ties to these areas, and marine conservation advocates. **Status:** The bill was signed into law, meaning the archaeological protection rule has been officially repealed. The joint resolution was sponsored by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) and passed through Congress.