HJRES 57119th CongressIn Committee

Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Interior relating to "Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf-High Pressure High Temperature Updates".

Introduced: Feb 12, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

H.J.Res.57 is a joint resolution that would use Congress’s disapproval authority under Chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code (the Congressional Review Act mechanism), to block a specific rule issued by the Department of the Interior. The targeted rule is the Department of the Interior’s updates to safety and operational standards for high pressure high temperature (HPHT) oil, gas, and sulfur operations in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The resolution states that Congress disapproves of the rule, identified as 89 Fed. Reg. 71076 (August 30, 2024), and that the rule shall have no force or effect if the resolution is enacted. In practical terms, if this joint resolution becomes law, the HPHT OCS updates would be nullified and could not be implemented as written. Enactment would require passage by both houses of Congress and either the President’s signature or an override of a presidential veto.

Key Points

1Purpose: To disapprove and nullify the Department of the Interior rule on HPHT updates for OCS oil, gas, and sulfur operations using the Congressional Review Act process.
2Targeted rule: The rule titled “Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf—High Pressure High Temperature Updates,” published as 89 Fed. Reg. 71076 on August 30, 2024.
3Legal mechanism: Uses Chapter 8 of title 5 U.S.C. (congressional disapproval) to strip the rule of effect.
4Status: Introduced in the House (February 12, 2025), referred to the Committee on Natural Resources; not yet enacted into law.
5Effect if enacted: The rule would have no force or effect, and the DOI could not implement that HPHT update as written; the agency would need to revisit or replace the rule.

Impact Areas

Primary affected group/area: Offshore oil, gas, and sulfur operators drilling and producing on the Outer Continental Shelf, particularly those subject to HPHT safety and operational standards; the Department of the Interior’s bureaus (e.g., BOEM, BSEE) responsible for such rules.Secondary affected group/area: Regulatory compliance professionals, safety engineers, and environmental and public health stakeholders who rely on offshore safety standards; offshore workers and contractors.Additional impacts:- Regulatory certainty and costs: If the rule is blocked, operators may avoid or delay compliance costs associated with the HPHT updates and instead await alternative standards or guidance.- Environmental and safety considerations: Blocking updated HPHT standards could affect safety protections and environmental risk management for offshore operations, depending on what changes the rule would have implemented.- Political and administrative process: The resolution exemplifies Congress exercising its oversight over federal rulemaking; it could influence ongoing or future regulatory reform debates and the DOI’s rulemaking agenda.

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